# NTSB GAA15CA223: Cessna 170B, N2369D, Driggs, ID, August 11, 2015

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: August 11, 2015, 15:00 local (21:00 UTC)
- Place: Driggs, ID
- Coordinates: 43.745555, -111.093612 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.7456&lon=-111.0936&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 30, 2015
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents
- Parties: Federal Aviation Adminstration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 91778
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA15CA223
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/91778/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91778
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15CA223

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll, which resulted in a runway excursion and a nose over.

## 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 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)
- [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)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing-flare/touchdown: 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-flare/touchdown: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Cessna 170B, 37 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2072306), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: 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 during touchdown for landing, a gust of wind blew the airplane to the right of the runway centerline. The pilot attempted to correct with control inputs, but the airplane continued to the right and exited the runway. The right main landing gear wheel dug in to the dirt and the airplane came to rest inverted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to fuselage, wings, horizontal stabilizer, and rudder. The wind reported from a weather station at the airport about the time of the accident were from 250 degrees at 7 knots. The pilot reported he was landing runway 21. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.

## Factual narrative

The pilot of the tailwheel equipped airplane reported that during touchdown for landing, a gust of wind blew the airplane to the right of the runway centerline. The pilot attempted to correct with control inputs, but the airplane continued to the right and exited the runway. The right main landing gear wheel dug in to the dirt and the airplane came to rest inverted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to fuselage, wings, horizontal stabilizer, and rudder. The wind reported from a weather station at the airport about the time of the accident were from 250 degrees at 7 knots. The pilot reported he was landing runway 21. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2369D](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2369D), registered now, S/N 20521 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 170B
- Registry model: [Cessna 170B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-170b) (registry code 2072306) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 20521
- Year built: 1952
- Airframe hours: 2850
- Engines: Continental O-300-A 145 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 10, 2015
- Departed: RAP, RAPID CITY, SD
- Destination: DIJ, Driggs, ID
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: DIJ, Driggs-Reed Memorial, runway 21, 7,300 × 100 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Stall warning system

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 27; injuries: none; private, military; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review April 16, 2014; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 1,567 total, 30 in this make and model, 1,300 as pilot in command, 220 in the last 90 days, 50 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 250° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 43 °F
- Altimeter: 30.26 inHg
- Observed at: KDIJ

## 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 20150811012589A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150811012589A), Aug 11, 2015: Cessna 170B, Driggs, ID, Substantial damage. Pilot reported gusty conditions during touchdown on runway 21, subsequently resulting in a loss of control of the aircraft. The aircraft came to rest inverted…

## Docket (5 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 11, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91778. 2.4 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40431716&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Photo 1 – Rudder and Horizontal Stabilizer (Courtesy of FAA) (item 2, .PDF, 108 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40431717&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20%E2%80%93%20Rudder%20and%20Horizontal%20Stabilizer%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)%0D%0A-Master.PDF
- Photo 2 – Left Wing (Courtesy of FAA) (item 3, .PDF, 142 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40431718&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20%E2%80%93%20Left%20Wing%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF
- Photo 3 – Right Wing (Courtesy of FAA) (item 4, .PDF, 143 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40431719&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203%20%E2%80%93%20Right%20Wing%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF
- Photo 4 – Fuselage (Courtesy of FAA) (item 5, .PDF, 96 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40431720&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%204%20%E2%80%93%20Fuselage%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.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.

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