# NTSB CEN25LA315: Cessna 170B, N3443C, Faith, SD, July 20, 2025

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: July 20, 2025, 12:50 local (18:50 UTC)
- Place: Faith, SD
- Coordinates: 45.03494, -102.02052
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.0349&lon=-102.0205&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 4, 2025
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA-FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 200759
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN25LA315
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200759/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200759
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA315

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll with crosswind.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 170B, 74 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2072306), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 170B, 91 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072306), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 170B, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=2072306), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 170B, 84 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2072306), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that, while landing, the airplane touched down and ground looped. During the ground loop, the right wing and horizontal stabilizer struck the ground. The airplane subsequently went nose down and came to rest back upright, which resulted in substantial damage to the right wing and horizontal stabilizer. At the time of the accident, the pilot was landing the airplane on runway 13 with wind from 110° at 11 knots. The pilot did not submit the National Transportation Safety Board Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident Report Form 6120.1.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3443C](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3443C), registered now, S/N 26486, built 1954 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 170B
- Registry model: [Cessna 170B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-170b) (registry code 2072306) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental 0-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (registry code 17022, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 26486
- Year built: 1954
- Airframe hours: 4694
- Engines: Continental C145 145 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: D07, Faith Municipal Airport, runway 13, 4,191 × 61 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 67; injuries: none; commercial, private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review December 17, 2024; flight hours: 2,100 total, 210 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 110° at 11 knots
- Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter: 29.93 inHg
- Observed at: KD07
- METAR: KD07 201856Z AUTO 11011KT 21/18 A2993 RMK A01 SLP125
T02060183

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 20250720011539A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250720011539A), Jul 20, 2025: Cessna 170B, Faith, SD, Substantial damage. Crosswind on landing, lost directional control on touch down and ground looped aircraft. METAR KD07 201856Z auto 11011T 21/18 A2993 rmk A01 SLP125 T02060183

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 4, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200759. 718 KB in all.

- Memorandum for record a�� FAA 8020-23 (item 1, PDF, 1 page, 66 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19563986&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20MOR-Rel.pdf
- Photo array (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 652 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19564415&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-Rel.pdf

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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