# NTSB DEN86LA240: Cessna 170B, N2790D, Greeley, CO, August 23, 1986

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 23, 1986, 07:30 local (13:30 UTC)
- Place: Greeley, CO
- Location: 40.4374° N, 104.6332° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at GREELEY-WELD COUNTY (GXY), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.4374&lon=-104.6332&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17042
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN86LA240
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17042/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN86LA240

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - runway (contributing factor)
  - altitude - excessive, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor)
  - flare - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, landing - roll
  - landing gear,tire - burst (cause)
  - maintenance,annual inspection - delayed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll
  - go-around - attempted, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of recent experience in type of aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - ground loop/swerve - uncontrolled, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

PLT WAS FERRYING ACFT FROM GLENWOOD SPRINGS, CO TO TROY, MO. ACFT WAS OUT OF ANNUAL (3-84) AND A SPECIAL AIRWORTHINESS CERTIFICATE WAS ISSUED. PLT LIKEWISE HAD NOT FLOWN FOR 2 YEARS. PLT ACCOMPLISHED THE MANDATORY BIENNIAL FLIGHT REVIEW THE DAY BEFORE THE ACCIDENT AND REPORTED LOGGING 4 HRS FLT TIME IN THE 24 HRS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. PLT SAID HE MADE NORMAL APCH TO RWY 09 BUT DURING FLARE REALIZED HE WAS TOO HIGH. ACFT MADE HARD LANDING, BLOWING RIGHT MAIN TIRE. PLT ADDED POWER IN ATTEMPT TO GO AROUND BUT ACFT GROUND LOOPED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2790D](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2790D), registered now, S/N 25332, 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: 25332
- Airframe hours: 3312
- Engines: CONTINENTAL C145-2 145 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Michael D. Purpura
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, March 1, 1984
- Departed: GWS, GLENWOOD SPRING, CO
- Destination: O2MO, TROY, MO
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: GXY, Greeley-Weld Co., runway 9, 6,200 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 39; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 118 total, 118 in this make and model, 63 as pilot in command, 4 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 120° at 12 knots, gusting 16
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 57 °F

## 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 19860823042539A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19860823042539A), Aug 23, 1986: Cessna 170B, Greeley, CO, Substantial damage. Pilot flared too high, hard landing, blew tires. Late application of power resulted in a ground loop.

## Other investigations on N2790D (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 DEN73FQA12](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN73FQA12), Aug 17, 1972: Cessna 170B (N2790D), Albuquerque, NM, 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.

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