# NTSB ERA25LA320: Cessna 170B, N170JL, Livermore Falls, ME, August 23, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: August 23, 2025, 14:30 local (18:30 UTC) - Place: Livermore Falls, ME · Turf runway - Coordinates: 44.409762, -70.1462 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.4098&lon=-70.1462&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 30, 2026 - 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): 200879 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA25LA320 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200879/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200879 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA320 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate airspeed during landing in gusting wind conditions, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and impact with terrain. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 170B, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=2072306), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/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) - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Response/compensation; 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) - [Performance/control parameters: angle of attack](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained; cases with it: [Cessna 170B, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md?model=2072306), [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. - [Landing: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 170B, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=2072306), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240); cases with it: [Cessna 170B, 19 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=2072306), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 170B, 52 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072306), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that purpose of the flight was to conduct two takeoffs and landings as part of a short takeoff and landing (STOL) competition. Runway 20 was in use, with winds from the south at 5 knots, gusting to 10 knots. Following the second takeoff, ground personnel advised the pilot that wind conditions had increased. During the second landing, at an altitude of about 20 ft above ground level (agl), the pilot inadvertently allowed the airplane’s airspeed to decay as it approached the intended touchdown point, and the left wing stalled. He attempted to correct for the stalled condition but was unable to regain control of the airplane. A spectator positioned near the accident site recorded the accident sequence. Review of the spectator-recorded video showed the airplane descending from about 20 ft agl in a nose-up attitude. The left wing dropped and contacted the ground, and the airplane rotated to the left. The nose subsequently impacted the ground, and the airplane continued to rotate left and came to rest about 180° from its original direction of flight. The airplane’s left wing and fuselage sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N170JL](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N170JL), registered now, S/N 25560, built 1953 (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: 25560 - Year built: 1953 - Airframe hours: 4795 - Engines: Lycoming O-360 SER 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 10, 2025, 52 hours before - Departed: B10, Livermore Falls, ME - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: B10, Bowman Field Airport, runway 20, 2,201 × 120 ft, grass/turf - Equipment: Angle of attack indicator, Data recorder, Electronic multifunction display, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 56; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: basicmed, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 1,818 total, 1,219 in this make and model, 1,818 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 29.98 inHg - Observed at: AUG, 16 nm away - METAR: KAUG 231853Z AUTO VRB06G20KT 10SM CLR 29/12 A2998 RMK AO2 SLP151 T02940122 PWINO ## 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 20250823012059A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250823012059A), Aug 23, 2025: Cessna 170B, Livermore Falls, ME, Substantial damage. On August 23, 2025, at approximately 1430 eastern time, a Cessna 170B was substantially damaged while attempting to land at Bowman field (KB10) during a stol… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 30, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200879. 13.2 MB in all. - NTSB 6120 1 form (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19800330&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%206120%201%20Form_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo array (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 425 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19800891&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-Rel.pdf - Witness video (item 3, MP4, 11.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19801321&FileExtension=mp4&FileName=Witness%20Cellphone%20Video-Rel.mp4 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.