# NTSB DEN99LA134: Cessna 170B, N4448B, Casper, WY, August 4, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 4, 1999, 13:04 local (19:04 UTC) - Place: Casper, WY - Coordinates: 42.830623, -106.32064 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.8306&lon=-106.3206&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 13, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 46923 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN99LA134 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/46923/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN99LA134 ## Probable cause The pilot's selection of a wrong runway for landing and his failure to maintain directional control. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - weather condition - crosswind - wrong runway - selected, pilot in command (cause) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - roll - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command ## Analysis During landing after a cross-country flight, the aircraft departed the side of the runway as a result of a ground loop. The pilot had been cleared to land on runway 8 and performed the landing on runway 3. Wind at the time was recorded to be from 090 degrees at 14 knots. The calculated headwind component was 7 knots and the calculated crosswind component was 12 knots. ## Factual narrative On August 4, 1999, at 1304 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 170B, N4448B, sustained substantial damage when it departed the right side of the runway during landing roll at Natrona County International Airport, Casper, Wyoming. The commercial pilot/flight instructor and student pilot/passenger were not injured. The flight was operating under Title 14 CFR Part 91 and no flight plan was filed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for this personal flight which originated from Knoxville, Iowa, at 1000 central daylight time. At the time of the occurrence, the pilot/flight instructor was occupying the right seat and the student pilot/ passenger was occupying the left seat. According to the pilot, she was cleared to land the aircraft on runway 03 and the ATIS reported the wind to be from 070 at 12 knots with gusts to 18 knots. The pilot said that near the end of the landing roll the plane started to swerve to the right and she applied left brake. She said the left brake "went to the floor and didn't help", and a ground loop to the right occurred. According to tower personnel, the pilot was cleared to land on runway 8 but lined up and landed on runway 3. The recorded wind at the time of the occurrence was 090 at 14 knots. Based on the recorded wind and the runway used, the calculated head wind component was 7 knots and the calculated crosswind component was 12 knots. Casper Air Service and the Federal Aviation Administration conducted an examination of the aircraft and the owner contracted repairs with Casper Air Service and Airway Structural Repair, Eaton, Colorado, who was contracted to repair the left wing. Their damage assessment is copied in a letter to the owner/pilot and is attached. The repair station that conducted the damage assessment to the left wing noted that a Cessna 170A aileron was installed vice the proper aileron. According to information provided by the Cessna Aircraft Company, there are no known control deficiencies as a result of this type installation, but it was not approved, nor has it been tested, and the aircraft was not airworthy as a result. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4448B](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4448B), registered now, S/N 26792, built 1955 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 170B - Registry model: [Cessna 170B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-170b) (registry code 2072306) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (registry code 17022, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 26792 - Airframe hours: 4250 - Engines: Franklin 6A-350-C1 220 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Gold Stream Exploration, LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 3, 1999, 30 hours before - Departed: OXV, KNOXVILLE, IA - Destination: CPR - Airport: CPR, Natrona County, runway 3, 10,600 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 36; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 995 total, 750 in this make and model, 920 as pilot in command, 70 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 90° at 14 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 50 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: CPR ## 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 19990804044959A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990804044959A), Aug 4, 1999: Cessna 170B, Casper, WY, No damage. (-23) Pilot lost control during gusty cross wind condition ## Other investigations on N4448B (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 ANC04LA008](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC04LA008), Nov 10, 2003: Cessna 170B (N4448B), Manley Hot Sprg, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for landing, which resulted in a nose over during the landing roll. A factor contributing to the accident was snow covered terrain at the landing strip. 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.