# NTSB ERA10CA310: Cessna 170, N4273V, Campbellsville, KY, June 13, 2010

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: June 12, 2010, 20:00 local (Jun 13, 2010, 01:00 UTC)
- Place: Campbellsville, KY
- Coordinates: 37.354721, -85.305557 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.3547&lon=-85.3056&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious
- Status: Completed, report December 20, 2010
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 76304
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA10CA310
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/76304/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76304
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10CA310

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during an aborted landing.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 170, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072302), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 170, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2072302), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Cessna 170, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=2072302), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 170, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2072302), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)
- [Other: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Cessna 170, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2072302), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md)
- [Other: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 170, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072302), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The passenger of the tailwheel-equipped airplane, a student pilot, stated that it was "coming in a little hot" for landing. It touched down "on the mains," bounced, touched down again on the left main, then "bounced to the right." After the bounce to the right, the pilot added power, and the airplane "gradually" veered into the weeds next to the runway, encountering vegetation and a ditch. Photographs provided by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector on scene revealed that the airplane came to rest inverted. The passenger sustained serious injuries. The pilot, at the time of this report, was in critical condition and unable to communicate with investigators.

## Factual narrative

The passenger of the tailwheel-equipped airplane, a student pilot, stated that it was "coming in a little hot" for landing. It touched down "on the mains," bounced, touched down again on the left main, then "bounced to the right." After the bounce to the right, the pilot added power, and the airplane "gradually" veered into the weeds next to the runway, encountering vegetation and a ditch. Photographs provided by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector on scene revealed that the airplane came to rest inverted. The passenger sustained serious injuries. The pilot, at the time of this report, was in critical condition and unable to communicate with investigators.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4273V](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4273V-2013-11-15), registration cancelled 2013-11-15, S/N 18631, built 1948 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 170
- Registry model: [Cessna 170](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-170) (registry code 2072302) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental C145 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c145-series) (registry code 17012, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18631
- Airframe hours: 1780
- Engines: CONT MOTOR C145 SERIES 145 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Ernie Dale Willis
- Registered owner: Ernie Dale Willis
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 1, 2010, 3 hours before
- Departed: AAS, Campbellsville, KY
- Destination: AAS, Campbellsville, KY
- Airport: AAS, Taylor County Airport, runway 05, 5,003 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 69; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 3,500 total, 10 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 270° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter: 30.05 inHg
- Observed at: DVK, 29 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 20100612036949A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100612036949A), Jun 12, 2010: Cessna 170, Campbellsville, KY, Substantial damage. On June 12, 2010, at 9:01 p.m. eastern daylight time, Cessna N4273V was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain after a loss of directional control…

## Other investigations on N4273V (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 UNK64X3247](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/UNK64X3247), Aug 6, 1964: Cessna 170 (N4273V), San Jose, CA, minor damage

## Docket (5 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 21, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76304. 2.3 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 9 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40333462&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF
- Other Pertinent Forms and Reports: Record of Conversation With Passenger (item 2, .PDF, 28 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40333031&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Other%20Pertinent%20Forms%20and%20Reports%3A%20Record%20of%20Conversation%20With%20Passenger-Master.PDF
- Other Pertinent Forms and Reports: Record of Conversation With the Federal Aviation Administration Inspector (item 3, .PDF, 41 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40333463&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Other%20Pertinent%20Forms%20and%20Reports%3A%20Record%20of%20Conversation%20With%20the%20Federal%20Aviation%20Administration%20Inspector-Redacted.PDF
- Photo 1: Right Side View of the Aircraft at Rest (Photo Courtesy of the FAA) (item 4, .PDF, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40333111&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%3A%20%20Right%20Side%20View%20of%20the%20Aircraft%20at%20Rest%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20the%20FAA)-Master.PDF
- Photo 2: View of the Aircraft at Rest (Photo Courtesy of the FAA) (item 5, .PDF, 776 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40333598&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%3A%20View%20of%20the%20Aircraft%20at%20Rest%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20the%20FAA)-Master.PDF

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.