- Date
- September 6, 1985, 18:05 local (22:05 UTC)
- Place
- Fruitport, MI
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N4169UCessna 170A
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Case key
- 12884
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The acft was destroyed during a precautionary landing after the left side of the eng cowling opened shortly after takeoff. The plt reported the cowling opened at an alt of aprx 50 ft AGL. A climb to 300 ft was made and the acft was turned onto downwind. The plt stated in an interview that because of turbulence and a fear the cowling would separate from the acft, he panicked and tried to put the acft down in an open fld. The acft contacted the terrain in a nose down left bank attitude.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N4169U
- Reported as
- Cessna 170A
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 18502
- Airframe hours
- 1,785
- Engine
- Continental O-145, 145 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Larry G Glaser
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · June 8, 1985 · 26 hours before
- Departed
- Fruitport, MI
- Destination
- 3GM · Grand Haven, MI
- Airport
- Flying A Ranch, runway 27, 2,500 × ft, grass/turf
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 34
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 300 total · 10 in this make and model · 10 in the last 90 days · 8 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 240° at 10 knots
- Visibility
- 8 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 82 °F