# NTSB CHI99LA106: Cessna 170B, N432W, Grand Ledge, MI, March 8, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 8, 1999, 10:00 local (15:00 UTC) - Place: Grand Ledge, MI - Coordinates: 42.749172, -84.740173 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.7492&lon=-84.7402&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 23, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 45910 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI99LA106 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/45910/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI99LA106 ## Probable cause the flight instructor's failure to successfully take remedial action to maintain directional control of the airplane during the landing roll out. Factors were the crosswinds and snowbank. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - snowbank (contributing factor) - Nose over, landing - roll ## Analysis The instructor pilot stated that after take off from Runway 9 he reduced power to simulate a rough running engine. He reported that the student turned the airplane back to Runway 27 and landed. He said that during the roll out, a sudden and unexpected gust of wind from the south turned the aircraft to the left. The student said that the airplane impacted a snowbank off the south side of the runway and nosed over. ## Factual narrative On March 8, 1999, at 1000 eastern standard time, a Cessna 170B, N432W, piloted by a private pilot receiving dual instruction from a certified flight instructor with an airline transport pilot rating, sustained substantial damage during a simulated emergency landing on Runway 27 (3,200' X 75' dry/asphalt), at Abrams Municipal Airport, Grand Ledge, Michigan. The instructor said that after take off from Runway 9, he reduced the throttle to simulate a loss of engine power and that the pilot turned back to land on Runway 27. The instructor stated that during the landing roll the airplane encountered a gust of wind that turned it 90 degrees to the runway. The airplane contacted a snowbank off the edge of the runway, and nosed over. The 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight was not on a flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The instructor reported one minor injury. The flight originated at approximately 0930 from Abrams Municipal Airport, Grand Ledge, Michigan. The instructor said in a written statement that he and the student completed three simulated emergency landings on Runway 9 at Abrams Municipal Airport and had started another takeoff. The instructor stated that at approximately 500 feet above ground level he reduced the throttle to simulate a rough running engine. The student pilot reported that on the landing roll after the gust of wind, he applied full right rudder. He stated that after he applied rudder, the instructor applied right rudder and right brake. The student said that the airplane hit a snowbank off the south edge of the runway and nosed over. In their written statements, both pilots state that they were at the controls at the time of the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N432W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N432W-2019-11-29), registration cancelled 2019-11-29, S/N 20325, built 1952 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 170B - Registry model: [Cessna 170B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-170b) (registry code 2072306) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C145 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c145-series) (registry code 17012, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 20325 - Airframe hours: 4100 - Engines: Continental O300-A 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Jacob William Hicks - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 1, 1998, 9 hours before - Departed: 4D0 - Destination: 4D0 - Airport: 4DO, Abrams Municipal Airport, runway 27, 3,200 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 65; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 9,000 total, 30 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 140° at 12 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 23,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 21 °F, dew point 12 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: LAN, 6 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19990308002499A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990308002499A), Mar 8, 1999: Cessna 170B, Grand Ledge, MI, Substantial damage. Acft lost directional control on landing and sustained substantial damage, other circumstances are unknown. (.19) on March 8, 1999, at 1130 eastern standard… ## Other investigations on N432W (2) 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 GAA18CA429](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA429), Jul 19, 2018: Cessna 170 (N432W), Spearfish, SD, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s improper decision to take off in tailwind conditions, which resulted in an aborted takeoff with insufficient runway remaining. - [NTSB CHI92LA087](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI92LA087), Feb 2, 1992: Cessna 170 (N432W), Howell, MI, substantial damage. Probable cause: DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WAS NOT MAINTAINED BY THE PILOT. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: A CROSS WIND. 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.