# NTSB CHI94LA027: Cessna 170B, N2923D, Maple Plain, MN, October 27, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 27, 1993, 14:15 local (19:15 UTC) - Place: Maple Plain, MN - Coordinates: 45.00093, -93.66053 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.0009&lon=-93.6605&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 7, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 9423 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI94LA027 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/9423/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI94LA027 ## 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 In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, landing - aborted - terrain condition - high obstruction(s) (contributing factor) - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - aborted takeoff - initiated, pilot in command - proper alignment - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - stall/mush - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - aborted - terrain condition - open field ## 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](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2923D), registered now, S/N 26866, built 1955 (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: 26866 - Airframe hours: 6898 - Engines: 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 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 55; 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19931027040779A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19931027040779A), Oct 27, 1993: Cessna 170B, Maple Plain, MN, Substantial damage. Trying to land in gusty crosswind weathervaned. Began go around. Settled into plowed dirt. Factors wind full flaps. 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.