- Date
- April 19, 1989, 06:30 local (12:30 UTC)
- Place
- Kalispell, MT
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N5414CCessna 170A
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 22, 1990
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19890419009369A
- Case key
- 17701
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane during the landing flare and rollout. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's lack of proficiency with only 4 hours of flight time in the preceding 90 day period.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The plt stated, 'during the landing phase the airplane started to act like it was in turbulence. On contact with the ground, I couldn't keep it going straight...'. The airplane ground looped and nosed over. Post crash examination of the brakes and related system revealed no evidence of a mechanical malfunction. The wind at the time of the accident was light and variable.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N5414C
- Reported as
- Cessna 170A
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 19448
- Engine
- Continental O-300, 145 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Westphal, Terry R.
- Registered owner
- Westphal, T. R./Lavalley, W.R.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility
- Departed
- FCA
- Destination
- FCA
- Airport
- FCA · Glacier Park Int'L, runway 19, 8,000 × 150 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 42
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 240 total · 175 in this make and model · 175 as pilot in command · 4 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 50 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N5414C · 2
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.