# NTSB ERA25LA312: Cessna 170, N2589V, Fitchburg, MA, August 23, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: August 23, 2025, 10:00 local (14:00 UTC) - Place: Fitchburg, MA · grass area along runway - Coordinates: 42.552158, -71.757007 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.5522&lon=-71.7570&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: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 18, 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): 200854 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA25LA312 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200854/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200854 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA312 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll with a quartering tailwind. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Wind: tailwind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 170, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md?model=2072302), [All aircraft, 594 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/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) - [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) ## 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 170, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=2072302), [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 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) - [Landing-landing roll: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Cessna 170, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=2072302), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: 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) - [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Cessna 170, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2072302), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane was approaching his destination airport for landing. During the landing roll, the airplane lifted off but then descended back to the runway and veered to the left. The pilot attempted to correct with opposite rudder, but the airplane then ground looped to the left and exited the left side of the runway. The airplane subsequently nosed over, which resulted in substantial damage to the rudder, aft fuselage, and right-wing lift strut. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. At the time of the accident, the pilot was landing on runway 32 and the report wind was from 210° at 8 knots, which would have resulted in the left quartering tailwind. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2589V](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2589V), registered now, S/N 18094, 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: 18094 - Year built: 1948 - Airframe hours: 3300 - Engines: CONT MOTOR C145 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 8, 2025, 4 hours before - Departed: 3B3, Sterling, MA - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: FIT, Fitchburg Muni, runway 32, 5,001 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Handheld GPS, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 61; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: basicmed, without waivers/limitations; last flight review October 9, 2023; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 751 total, 175 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 30.06 inHg - Turbulence: Moderate - Observed at: FIT - METAR: KFIT 231352Z AUTO 21008KT 10SM CLR 27/14 A3006 RMK AO2 SLP180 T02720139 ## 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 20250823012459A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250823012459A), Aug 23, 2025: Cessna 170, Fitchburg, MA, Substantial damage. On August 23, 2025, a Cessna 170 was making a landing on runway 32 at Fitchburg Municipal Airport in Massachusetts. The aircraft atempted a landing at the… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 18, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200854. 2.7 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19588330&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%206120%201%20Form_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigation photographs (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19639250&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.