# NTSB DEN03LA060: Cessna 170A, N5577C, Hobbs, NM, March 29, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 29, 2003, 16:22 local (23:22 UTC) - Place: Hobbs, NM - Coordinates: 32.6875, -103.216941 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.6875&lon=-103.2169&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 25, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Lubbock, TX - NTSB case key (mKey): 56717 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN03LA060 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/56717/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN03LA060 ## Probable cause the pilot's failure to maintain aircraft directional control during takeoff roll. A factor was the runway light's cement foundation. ## 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 - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water collision with object, takeoff - roll/run - object - runway light (contributing factor) - Nose over, takeoff - roll/run ## Analysis The wind was variable at 5 knots. The pilot said that takeoff roll appeared normal, but when he raised the tail wheel, the airplane veered to the left. He said that "a lot of rudder" did not correct the heading deviation. As the airplane approached the edge of the runway, the pilot applied full breaks, and the airplane nosed down. Subsequently, the airplane struck a runway light cement foundation, and nosed over. ## Factual narrative On March 29, 2003, at 1622 mountain standard time, a Cessna 170A, N5577C, was substantially damaged when it nosed over during takeoff roll at Lea County Regional Airport, Hobbs, New Mexico. The private pilot and his passenger were not injured. The flight was being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local flight that was originating at the time of the accident. The pilot had not filed a flight plan. The pilot said that the wind was "fairly calm" [variable at 5 knots] when tower cleared him for takeoff on runway 30. "Everything appeared normal" he said, and the takeoff roll was right on the centerline. The airplane accelerated through 35 to 40 miles per hour, and he pushed the yolk forward to lift the tail wheel. "In a couple of seconds, we were heading left at an estimated angle of approximately 30 degrees to the centerline." He applied a lot of right rudder, but the airplane continued left. The pilot said that as he approached the edge of the runway, he "applied full brakes, this resulted in the nose going down and the prop [propeller] began striking the runway." The airplane left the runway, struck a concrete block (which held a runway light) and nosed over. The right wing was bent up, the vertical stabilizer and the firewall were bent, and the fuselage was wrinkled. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5577C](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5577C-2006-01-25), registration cancelled 2006-01-25, S/N 19631, built 1950 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 170A - Registry model: [Cessna 170A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-170a) (registry code 2072304) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C145 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c145-series) (registry code 17012, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 19631 - Airframe hours: 2935 - Engines: Continental C-145 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Ralph C. Bruton - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: HOB, Hobbs, NM - Destination: Hobbs, NM - Airport: HOB, Lea County Regional Airport, runway 30, 7,398 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 64; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review March 28, 2002; seat: left; flight hours: 21 total, 62 in this make and model, 447 as pilot in command, 21 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 5 knots - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 10 °F - Altimeter: 30.37 inHg - Observed at: HOB ## 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 20030329004909A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030329004909A), Mar 29, 2003: Cessna 170A, Hobbs, NM, Substantial damage. (-23) On March 29, 2003, at approximately 1622 MST local time, (2322Z), the pilot of a Cessna 170A aircraft, N5577C, lost control during takeoff roll from… 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.