- Date
- June 17, 2016, 14:30 local (22:30 UTC)
- Place
- Palmer, AK
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N1311DCessna 170
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Abnormal runway contact
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report August 31, 2016
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20160617023969A
- Case key
- 93431
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain a wings-level attitude during takeoff in gusty wind conditions, which resulted in the right wing striking the ground, a loss of lateral bank control, and a nose over during the subsequent landing.
Findings · 4
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot of a tailwheel equipped airplane reported that during a gusty crosswind takeoff from a dry lake bed the left wing lifted and unbeknownst to the pilot, the right wing contacted the ground. The pilot further reported that during the initial climb, the airplane turned right despite full left rudder and aileron inputs. The airplane turned downwind about 4-6 feet off the ground, encountered a tailwind which "pushed the airplane down", descended onto a puddle, hydroplaned, and nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing and aileron. The pilot reported there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
The pilot of a tailwheel equipped airplane reported that during a gusty crosswind takeoff from a dry lake bed the left wing lifted and unbeknownst to the pilot, the right wing contacted the ground. The pilot further reported that during the initial climb, the airplane turned right despite full left rudder and aileron inputs. The airplane turned downwind about 4-6 feet off the ground, encountered a tailwind which "pushed the airplane down", descended onto a puddle, hydroplaned, and nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing and aileron. The pilot reported there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N1311D
- Reported as
- Cessna 170 (A)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 19887
- Built
- 1951
- Engine
- Cont Motor O-300-A, 145 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · June 1, 2016
- Departed
- Palmer, AK
- Destination
- PAQ · Palmer, AK
- Equipment
- Stall warning system, Electronic flight bag or handheld device
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 31
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- April 26, 2015
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 300 total · 240 in this make and model · 240 as pilot in command
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 160° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 73 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.87 inHg
- Observed at
- PAAQ, 22 nm away
Docket · 3
The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 3, 2016, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 1.3 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N1311D · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.