- Date
- October 27, 1993, 14:15 local (19:15 UTC)
- Place
- Maple Plain, MN
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N2923DCessna 170B
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 7, 1994
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19931027040779A
- Case key
- 9423
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's improper compensation for wind conditions, failure to maintain runway alignment, and failure to maintain adequate airspeed during the aborted landing. Factors related to the accident were: high obstructions and the adverse wind conditions.
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 pilot began a landing on a 2900 foot runway with a left crosswind of 10 to 15 knots, gusting 15 to 20 knots. The approach to the runway was over trees and electrical wires. The pilot said that he made the approach with a low power setting, full flaps, and with the carburetor heat on. As he was about to land, there was a sudden loss of airspeed and the airplane dropped to the ground and bounced. The pilot 'applied power to effect a go around to land a little further down the runway.' He said the airplane seemed to weathervane into the wind and began to drift to the left over plowed ground toward trees. He tried to align the flight path more in the direction of the runway; however, the aircraft settled and impacted the plowed ground about 200 to 300 feet left of the runway. A post-accident examination of the airplane failed to reveal any preexisting anomalies.
Factual narrative
On October 27, 1993, at 1415 central daylight time, a Cessna 170B, N2923D, registered to Richard J. Cherba, and operated by a airline transport rated pilot, experienced a loss of control during an aborted landing attempt and impacted in a plowed field adjacent to runway 29 at Maple Plain, Minnesota. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported no injuries. The personal 14 CFR Part 91 flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan was on file. The flight departed Saint Cloud, Minnesota, at 1140.
The pilot stated that the airplane touched down "firm" and he attempted to abort the landing. The airplane turned to the left. Seeing a tree line coming up the pilot attempted to turn right more in line with the direction of the runway, and the airplane impacted in a plowed field.
A post accident examination of the airplane and engine failed to reveal any pre-existing anomalies.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N2923D
- Reported as
- Cessna 170B
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 26866
- Airframe hours
- 6,898
- Engine
- Continental O-300-A, 145 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Cherba, Richard J.
- Registered owner
- Cherba, Richard J.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · July 30, 1993 · 17 hours before
- Departed
- STC · Saint Cloud, MN
- Destination
- MN69
- Airport
- MN69 · Maple Plain, runway 29, 2,900 × 100 ft, grass/turf
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 55
- Certificates
- Commercial, Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 17,005 total · 314 in this make and model · 15,205 as pilot in command · 208 in the last 90 days · 71 in the last 30 days · 12 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 200° at 15 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 36 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.