# NTSB GAA15CA246: Cessna 170A, N112RP, New Milford, CT, August 30, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 30, 2015, 09:30 local (13:30 UTC) - Place: New Milford, CT - Coordinates: 41.568889, -73.462219 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.5689&lon=-73.4622&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: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 8, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 91908 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA15CA246 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/91908/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91908 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15CA246 ## Probable cause The pilot's loss of directional control during the landing roll which resulted in a runway excursion and impact with terrain. ## 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 170A, 33 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072304), [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 170A, 23 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2072304), [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-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 170A, 33 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2072304), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 170A, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072304), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the tailwheel equipped airplane reported that he made a wheel landing on the grass runway, and during the landing roll let the tailwheel settle to the ground. When the tailwheel touched down, the tail moved to the right and the nose of the airplane veered to the left. The airplane exited the left side of the runway and as it came to a stop it rolled to the right and the right wing and horizontal stabilizer impacted the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing, aileron, right horizontal stabilizer, elevator, and the fuselage. 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 he made a wheel landing on the grass runway, and during the landing roll let the tailwheel settle to the ground. When the tailwheel touched down, the tail moved to the right and the nose of the airplane veered to the left. The airplane exited the left side of the runway and as it came to a stop it rolled to the right and the right wing and horizontal stabilizer impacted the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing, aileron, right horizontal stabilizer, elevator, and the fuselage. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N112RP](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N112RP), registered now, S/N 19422, built 1950 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 170A - Registry model: [Cessna 170A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-170a) (registry code 2072304) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C145 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c145-series) (registry code 17012, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 19422 - Year built: 1961 - Airframe hours: 4122 - Engines: CONTINENTAL MOTORS C-145-2 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Mountain Aviation LLC - Registered owner: Mountain Aviation LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 15, 2015 - Departed: OXC, OXFORD, CT - Destination: 11N, NEW MILFORD, CT - Airport: 11N, Candlelight Farms, runway 35, 2,900 × 50 ft, grass/turf - Equipment: Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 39; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review July 19, 2015; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 464 total, 8 in this make and model, 304 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 4 knots - Visibility: 9 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 30.12 inHg - Observed at: KDXR, 12 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 20150830015409A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150830015409A), Aug 30, 2015: Cessna 170A, Sherman, CT, Substantial damage. The pilot landed the aircraft with 2 passengers on board on the grass landing strip. During the landing the aircraft drifted left into the tall grass area off… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 24, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91908. 811 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 471 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40432135&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Photos (Courtesy of FAA) (item 2, .PDF, 3 photos, 340 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40432136&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photos%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. --- 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.