# NTSB ERA13CA351: Cessna 170B, N4251, Meridian, MS, August 4, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 4, 2013, 12:00 local (17:00 UTC) - Place: Meridian, MS - Coordinates: 32.32611, -88.751113 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.3261&lon=-88.7511&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 21, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 87688 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA13CA351 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/87688/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87688 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13CA351 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane stated that during the landing flare, the airplane began to drift to the right, and then yawed left upon touchdown. The pilot applied right rudder to compensate, and the airplane continued to yaw to the left while skidding to the right. The right wing and nose subsequently contacted the runway before the airplane came to rest. Postaccident examination by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed substantial damage to the fuselage at the right main landing gear attach point. The pilot reported there were no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. When asked how the accident could have been prevented, the pilot commented that had he, “…recognized the sudden left yaw early enough, perhaps a go-around would have been enough to straighten it out.” ## Factual narrative The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane stated that during the landing flare, the airplane began to drift to the right, and then yawed left upon touchdown. The pilot applied right rudder to compensate, and the airplane continued to yaw to the left while skidding to the right. The right wing and nose subsequently contacted the runway before the airplane came to rest. Postaccident examination by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed substantial damage to the fuselage at the right main landing gear attach point. The pilot reported there were no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. When asked how the accident could have been prevented, the pilot commented that had he, “…recognized the sudden left yaw early enough, perhaps a go-around would have been enough to straighten it out.” ## Aircraft - Registration: N4251 (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 170B - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 25346 - Airframe hours: 3800 - Engines: CONT MOTOR C145 SERIES 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Kirchoff Kevin B - Registered owner: Kirchoff Kevin B - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, April 10, 2013 - Departed: NQA, Millington, TN - Destination: MEI, Meridian, MS - Airport: MEI, Key Field Airport, runway 04, 4,599 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 56; injuries: none; flight engineer, military, commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 11, 2013; seat: right; flight hours: 8,200 total, 124 in this make and model, 5,500 as pilot in command, 59 in the last 90 days, 19 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 330° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,600 ft broken - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 75 °F - Altimeter: 30.06 inHg - Observed at: MEI ## 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 20130804015049A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130804015049A), Aug 4, 2013: Cessna 170B, Meridian, MS, Substantial damage. During landing phase, after initial contact with the runway, the aircraft began drifting. Pilot control input was insufficient to stop drifting. Aircraft began… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 19, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87688. 7.0 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 520 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40400587&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Memorandum for Record - MEI Weather (item 2, .PDF, 122 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40400588&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20-%20MEI%20Weather-Master.PDF - Photo 1 - Overall view of airplane (Courtesy of FAA) (item 3, .PDF, 3.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40401041&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20Overall%20view%20of%20airplane%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF - Photo 2 - Damage to structure (Courtesy of FAA) (item 4, .PDF, 2.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40401042&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20-%20Damage%20to%20structure%20(Courtesy%20of%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.