# NTSB FTW99LA246: Cessna 170A, N3865V, Brady, TX, September 3, 1999

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 3, 1999, 12:15 local (17:15 UTC)
- Place: Brady, TX
- Coordinates: 31.130441, -99.370147 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.1304&lon=-99.3701&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 22, 2000
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 47280
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW99LA246
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/47280/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW99LA246

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a dirt bank.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, taxi - from landing
  - terrain condition - dirt bank/rising embankment
  - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

The pilot misjudged his speed and distance from a dirt mound during taxi after landing, and the airplane's left main landing gear and wing impacted the dirt mound.

## Factual narrative

On September 3, 1999, at 1215 central daylight time, a Cessna 170A tail-wheel equipped airplane, N3865V, was substantially damaged when it impacted a dirt mound while taxiing at the Curtis Field Airport near Brady, Texas.  The commercial pilot, who was the owner and operator of the airplane and the sole occupant, was not injured.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.  The flight originated from the Eastland Municipal Airport, Eastland, Texas, at 1120.

According to the pilot, the asphalt runway at Curtis Field Airport was under construction and there were dirt mounds adjacent to it, therefore, he elected to land on the grass runway.  The pilot stated that as he was taxiing off of the grass runway, he misjudged his distance and speed, and the airplane impacted one of the dirt mounds with the left main landing gear and left wing.

The FAA inspector, who visited the accident site, stated that the left main landing gear attachment assembly was structurally damaged, and the left wing spar was bent up outboard of the wing flap.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3865V](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3865V-2000-07-28), registration cancelled 2000-07-28, S/N 18752 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Cessna 170A
- Registry model: [Cessna 170A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-170a) (registry code 2072304) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18752
- Airframe hours: 4904
- Engines: Continental C145-2 145 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Jean F. Williams
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, March 16, 1999, 90 hours before
- Departed: ETN, EASTLAND, TX
- Destination: BBD
- Airport: BBD, Curtis Field, runway 26, 3,520 × 110 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 79; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 4,000 total, 1,500 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 200° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: SJT, 60 nm away

## 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 19990903044689A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990903044689A), Sep 3, 1999: Cessna 170, Brady, TX, No damage. (-23) A/c landed long struck dirt embankment subsequently collapsing left gear and wing.

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.

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