# NTSB DEN04LA093: Cessna 170B, N2555C, Heber City, UT, June 23, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 22, 2004, 20:15 local (Jun 23, 2004, 02:15 UTC) - Place: Heber City, UT - Coordinates: 40.481666, -111.428611 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.4817&lon=-111.4286&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 29, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 59481 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN04LA093 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/59481/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN04LA093 ## Probable cause the pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during the aborted landing. Contributing factors were the pilot's failure to maintain runway alignment, the fence, and the ditch. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, landing - aborted - recovery from bounced landing - attempted, pilot in command - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - proper alignment - not maintained, pilot in command (contributing factor) - On ground/water collision with object, landing - aborted - object - fence (contributing factor) - Nose over, landing - aborted - terrain condition - ditch (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot said he landed "smoothly" on runway 3. The tail wheel bounced slightly and the airplane became airborne and drifted to the left of runway centerline. He added power to make abort the landing. The airplane settled back onto the runway, then veered off the left side. It struck the airport boundary fence, rolled into a ditch, and nosed over. The vertical stabilizer was crushed, and the wing rear carry-through spar was bent. ## Factual narrative On June 22, 2004, approximately 2015 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 170B, N2555C, piloted by a private pilot, was substantially damaged when it struck a fence and impacted a ditch during an aborted landing at Heber City Municipal Airport (36U), Heber City, Utah. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal cross-country flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot was not injured, but his two passengers sustained minor injuries. The flight departed the Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC), Salt Lake City, Utah, approximately 1930, and was destined for 36U. According to the pilot, he landed "smoothly" on runway 3. The tail wheel bounced slightly and the airplane became airborne and drifted to the left of runway centerline. He added power to abort the landing. The airplane settled back onto the runway, then veered off the left side. It struck the airport boundary fence, rolled into a ditch, and nosed over. The vertical stabilizer was crushed, and the wing rear carry-through spar was bent. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2555C](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2555C), registered now, S/N 26199, built 1954 (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: 26199 - Airframe hours: 4344 - Engines: Continental C-145-2 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: John B. Wells - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 14, 2002, 12 hours before - Departed: SLC, Salt Lake City, UT - Destination: 36U, Heber City, UT - Airport: 36U, Heber City Municipal, runway 03, 6,898 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 45; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review June 17, 2004; seat: left; flight hours: 995 total, 25 in this make and model, 960 as pilot in command, 3 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 310° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: SLC, 31 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 20040622010139A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040622010139A), Jun 22, 2004: Cessna 170B, Heber, UT, Substantial damage. (-23) The aircraft, piloted by j. bret wells, departed salt lake city (slc) at 1930 MDT on June 22, 2004, destined for the Heber city airport (36U). Upon… ## Other investigations on N2555C (1) 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 MKC73FER16](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC73FER16), Aug 27, 1972: Cessna 170B (N2555C), Hibbing, MN, substantial damage 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.