# NTSB CHI89LA021: Cessna 170A, N5596C, Springfield, IL, November 2, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: November 2, 1988, 08:48 local (14:48 UTC)
- Place: Springfield, IL
- Location: 39.8446° N, 89.6776° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at ABRAHAM LINCOLN CAPITAL (SPI), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.8446&lon=-89.6776&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 24, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 14309
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI89LA021
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/14309/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI89LA021

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- Nose down, landing - roll

## Analysis

THE CONVENTIONAL LANDING GEAR EQUIPPED AIRPLANE WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED WHEN IT NOSED DOWN AFTER GROUND LOOPING DURING A LANDING ATTEMPT. VMC PREVAILED AND A 90 DEGREE RIGHT CROSSWIND, BLOWING AT 12 KNOTS, WAS PRESENT. THE PILOT RELATES IN HIS STATEMENT THAT AFTER TOUCHDOWN THE AIRPLANE TURNED RIGHT AND THE LEFT WING WENT DOWN. THE AIRPLANE NOSED DOWN WHEN THE MAIN LANDING GEAR LEFT THE RUNWAY.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5596C](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5596C), registered now, S/N 19650, built 1950 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 170A
- Registry model: [Cessna 170A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-170a) (registry code 2072304) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental C145 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c145-series) (registry code 17012, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 19650
- Airframe hours: 1830
- Engines: CONTINENTAL C-145-2 145 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Cruthers V. Sutton
- Registered owner: C.V. Sutton
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, June 6, 1988, 6 hours before
- Departed: SUTT, LAYFAYETTE, IN
- Airport: SPI, Capital, runway 4, 7,999 × 150 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 68; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 3,442 total, 500 in this make and model, 3,400 as pilot in command, 5 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 130° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 39 °F, dew point 30 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: SPI

## 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 19881102049849A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19881102049849A), Nov 2, 1988: Cessna 170A, Springfield, IL, Substantial damage. Lost control landing as the aircraft weathervaned into the strong right crosswind.

## Other investigations on N5596C (1)

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.

- [NTSB GAA17CA445](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA445), Jul 27, 2017: Cessna 170 (N5596C), San Andreas, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s improper landing flare during an aborted go-around in gusting wind conditions, which resulted in a hard landing.

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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