- Date
- May 10, 1998, 13:25 local (18:25 UTC)
- Place
- Emily, MN
- Injuries
- 3 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N1491DCessna 170A
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 21, 2000
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19980510015349A
- Case key
- 10869
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 failure to maintain the proper rate of descent on final. A factor was the vegetation (bushes).
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 stated that, 'she saw herself sinking below glide path, added power, but the airplane didn't respond.' When asked if she tried to go-around she stated, 'I wanted to go-around, but the airplane wouldn't climb out, even with full power.' The pilot stated that the aircraft, 'clipped bushes at the end of the runway.' The pilot reported that she had two notches of flaps extended during the approach. The pilot stated to a Federal Aviation Administration Inspector that the aircraft, 'started sinking,' and that she maintained an, 'approach attitude,' and started to add power. The pilot was asked if she felt that she got behind the power curve, and she responded that she did not know what that was. The pilot stated that there were no problems with the engine prior and during the time of the accident.
Factual narrative
On May 10, 1998, at 1325 central daylight time, a Cessna 170A, N1491D, was substantially damaged during a collision with high vegetation and subsequent nose over during the landing on a private airstrip (2,000 feet by 100 feet, soft/grass) near Emily, Minnesota. The private pilot and two passengers reported minor injuries. The personal 14 CFR Part 91 flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan was on file. The flight departed Moritz Air Field, Emily, Minnesota, at 1310.
According to the pilot's written statement, the pilot stated that she added power to maintain proper airspeed and altitude while descending to the runway. The pilot reported that she had two notches of flaps extended during the approach. The pilot went on to say that she advanced the throttle completely before touching down on the runway. The pilot confirmed that the aircraft, "clipped bushes at the end of the runway."
In a telephone conversation with the pilot, she stated that, "she saw herself sinking below glide path, added power, but the airplane didn't respond." When asked if she tried to go-around she stated, "I wanted to go-around, but the airplane wouldn't climb out, even with full power."
The pilot stated to a Federal Aviation Administration Inspector that the aircraft, "started sinking," and that she maintained an, "approach attitude," and started to add power. The pilot was asked if she felt that she got behind the power curve, and she responded that she did not know what that was. The pilot stated that there were no problems with the engine prior and during the time of the accident.
The pilot reported to a Crow Wing County Sheriff Deputy that she felt like she was getting low on the approach and, "gave it more gas." The pilot stated that, "...I gave it all the gas that I could while pulling back on the yoke which is what we do when we land the tail dragger."
Aircraft
- Registration
- N1491D
- Reported as
- Cessna 170A
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 20093
- Engine
- Continental O-300-C, 145 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Randal Leonard Moritz
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · April 1, 1997 · 85 hours before
- Departed
- PVT
- Airport
- PVT · Moritz Air Field, runway 11, 2,000 × 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
- 22
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 186 total · 145 in this make and model · 107 as pilot in command · 10 in the last 90 days · 7 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 110° at 3 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 70 °F, dew point 41 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- PWC, 20 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.