# NTSB ERA20CA307: Cessna 170, N170JS, Morrisville, VT, September 3, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 3, 2020, 11:21 local (15:21 UTC) - Place: Morrisville, VT - Coordinates: 44.536945, -72.613891 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.5369&lon=-72.6139&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: Textron Aviation, FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 101916 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA20CA307 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101916/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101916 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20CA307 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control and subsequent exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of attack during takeoff, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and collision with terrain. ## 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 170A, 33 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072304), [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 170A, 23 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2072304), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: angle of attack](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 170A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md?model=2072304), [All aircraft, 990 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 170A, 33 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2072304), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240); cases with it: [Cessna 170A, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=2072304), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the right seat pilot/owner of the tailwheel-equipped airplane, she was demonstrating a short field takeoff to the passenger on a grass area adjacent to the airport’s single paved runway. After adding power and releasing the brakes, the airplane veered to the left toward a ditch between the grass area and the paved runway. The pilot attempted to steer away from the ditch by applying rudder control inputs but was unsuccessful. As the airplane approached the ditch she elected to rotate. The airplane briefly became airborne then stalled and impacted terrain. The pilot and the passenger were seriously injured and the airplane’s fuselage and both wings were substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N170JS](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N170JS-2021-02-27), registration cancelled 2021-02-27, S/N 19546, built 1950 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 170 (A) - Registry model: [Cessna 170A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-170a) (registry code 2072304) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C145 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c145-series) (registry code 17012, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 19546 - Year built: 1950 - Airframe hours: 5720 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A1A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 14, 2019 - Airport: MVL, Morrisville-Stowe State, runway 01, 3,700 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 56; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: right; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 2,200 total, 1,400 in this make and model, 2,200 as pilot in command, 55.8 in the last 90 days, 12.7 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,900 ft broken - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 29.84 inHg - Observed at: KMVL ## 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 20200903017769A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200903017769A), Sep 3, 2020: Cessna 170A, Morrisville, VT, Substantial damage. [privacy data omitted] Arrived at the Morrisville-Stowe State airport (kmvl) at approximately 1000 hours on 09/03/2020 in a 1950 Cessna 170A N170JS. The… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 22, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101916. 11.4 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 437 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11637106&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Airport surveillance video (item 2, MP4, 7.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11540151&FileExtension=mp4&FileName=Video-Rel.mp4 - FAA inspector's statement (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 106 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11638200&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20-%20FAA%20Inspector-Rel.pdf - Witness statements (item 4, PDF, 2 pages, 103 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11636756&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=N107JS%20witness_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 5, PDF, 5 pages, 2.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11636439&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-Rel.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.