# NTSB DEN00LA087: Cessna 170B, N8319A, Bedford, WY, May 13, 2000

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: May 13, 2000, 07:30 local (13:30 UTC)
- Place: Bedford, WY
- Coordinates: 42.89986, -110.930488 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.8999&lon=-110.9305&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 2, 2001
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 49189
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN00LA087
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/49189/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN00LA087

## Probable cause

The pilot's inadvertent ground loop.  A factor was the soft grass airstrip.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - on ground/water, takeoff - roll/run
  - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
  - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - soft (contributing factor)

## Analysis

The pilot said that while on takeoff roll from the grass runway, at approximately 40 miles per hour, 'I hit a soft spot which pulled the airplane hard left.'  He said the airplane ground looped to the left.  The pilot said the left landing gear collapsed, the left wing was bent, and the fuselage was damaged.

## Factual narrative

On May 13, 2000, approximately 0730 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 170B, N8319A, was substantially damaged when the aircraft ground looped on takeoff roll on Heiner Airstrip, Bedford, Wyoming.  The commercial pilot and his two passengers were not injured.  The pilot was operating the airplane under Title 14 CFR Part 91.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local flight, which was originating at the time of the accident.  No flight plan had been filed.

The pilot said that while on takeoff roll from the grass runway, at approximately 40 miles per hour, "I hit a soft spot which pulled the airplane hard left."  He said the airplane ground looped to the left.  The pilot said the left landing gear collapsed, the left wing was bent, and the fuselage was damaged.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8319A](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8319A), registered now, S/N 25171, 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: 25171
- Airframe hours: 3578
- Engines: Lycoming O-360-A1A 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Gaylon G. Heiner
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 25, 2000, 6 hours before
- Departed: WY60
- Destination: LGU, LOGAN, UT
- Airport: WY60, Heiner, runway 22, 2,200 × 40 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 49; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,800 total, 120 in this make and model, 1,724 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 41 °F, dew point 23 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: AFO, 9 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 20000513009589A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000513009589A), May 13, 2000: Cessna 170B, Afton, WY, No damage. (-23) The pilot lost control of a/c on takeoff from a grass strip and ground looped causing substantial damage to the Cessna 170-B. The pilot and two…

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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