# NTSB ERA25LA139: Cessna 170B, N2480D, Gainesville, GA, February 23, 2025

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: February 23, 2025, 15:20 local (20:20 UTC)
- Place: Gainesville, GA
- Coordinates: 34.272626, -83.830226 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.2726&lon=-83.8302&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 November 20, 2025
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 199827
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA25LA139
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/199827/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199827
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA139

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control of the tailwheel-equipped airplane while landing in gusty crosswind conditions.

## 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: [Cessna 170B, 74 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2072306), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md)
- [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 170B, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=2072306), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md)
- [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 170B, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=2072306), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 170B, 91 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072306), [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: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Cessna 170B, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=2072306), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 170B, 84 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2072306), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Cessna 170B, 29 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2072306), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that he was landing with a 5 to 6 knot crosswind. During the landing rollout, the airplane began to drift to the right and when the heading deviation reached about 10°, the pilot elected to abort the landing. The windsock subsequently indicated a “more favorable headwind” and the pilot attempted a second landing; however, the airplane again drifted to the right during the landing rollout. The pilot’s remedial actions were unsuccessful. The airplane “ground looped” and sustained substantial damage to both wings. A 30° right crosswind with gusts up to 16 knots was reported at the airport about 30 minutes before the accident, and a 10° left crosswind with gusts up to 14 knots was reported about 30 minutes after the accident. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2480D](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2480D), registered now, S/N 20632, built 1952 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 170B
- Registry model: [Cessna 170B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-170b) (registry code 2072306) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental C145 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c145-series) (registry code 17012, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 20632
- Year built: 1952
- Airframe hours: 4351.5
- Engines: Continental O-300-A 145 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, June 14, 2024
- Departed: KSVH, Statesville, NC
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: GVL, Lee Gilmer Meml, runway 23, 5,496 × 100 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Stall warning system, Electronic primary flight display, ADS-B

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 24; injuries: none; private, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review March 21, 2024; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,663 total, 9.7 in this make and model, 1,535 as pilot in command, 38 in the last 90 days, 22 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 260° at 10 knots, gusting 16
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 23 °F
- Altimeter: 30.14 inHg
- Observed at: GVL
- METAR: KGVL 231953Z AUTO 26010G16KT 10SM CLR 12/M05 A3014

## 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 20250223009549A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250223009549A), Feb 23, 2025: Cessna 170B, Gainesville, GA, Substantial damage. Pilot reported landing on runway 23 at gvl and upon rollout, the aircraft veered to the right. Pilot executed a go around procedure and observed the airport…

## Other investigations on N2480D (2)

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 MIA78DKT28](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA78DKT28), Nov 11, 1977: Cessna 170B (N2480D), Ft Myers, FL, substantial damage
- [NTSB FTW69D0148](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW69D0148), Aug 2, 1968: Cessna 170 (N2480D), Hot Springs, AR, substantial damage

## Docket (4 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 20, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199827. 21.5 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 16.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18480732&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20Form_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Pilot records excerpt (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 23 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18481033&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Log10Pro%20Report%20TAILWHEEL%20ENDORSEMENT_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Airport METAR observations (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 1 photo, 73 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19555741&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=METAR-Rel.pdf
- Photo array (item 4, PDF, 2 pages, 4.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18481132&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array_Redacted-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.