# NTSB GAA16CA345: Cessna 170, N401P, Everett, WA, June 29, 2016 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 28, 2016, 17:30 local (Jun 29, 2016, 00:30 UTC) - Place: Everett, WA - Coordinates: 47.904167, -122.271667 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.9042&lon=-122.2717&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: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 3, 2016 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 93497 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA16CA345 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/93497/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93497 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA345 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll, which resulted in a runway excursion and substantial damage to the fuselage. ## 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) - [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on equipment; cases with it: [Cessna 170A, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=2072304), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/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: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Cessna 170A, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2072304), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Cessna 170A, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=2072304), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Part(s) separation from AC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338); cases with it: [Cessna 170A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338/sequence.md?model=2072304), [All aircraft, 563 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Cessna 170A, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2072304), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of a tailwheel equipped airplane reported that during the landing roll in crosswind conditions the airplane veered to the left and the left main landing gear exited the runway. The pilot further reported that he applied right rudder to correct for the veer, and as the left main landing gear returned to the pavement the wheel separated from the gear leg. He reported that the leg drug along the runway and the airplane came to a stop nose down, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported that 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 the landing roll in crosswind conditions the airplane veered to the left and the left main landing gear exited the runway. The pilot further reported that he applied right rudder to correct for the veer, and as the left main landing gear returned to the pavement the wheel separated from the gear leg. He reported that the leg drug along the runway and the airplane came to a stop nose down, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N401P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N401P-2018-06-26), registration cancelled 2018-06-26, S/N 20022, built 1951 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 170 (A) - 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: 20022 - Year built: 1951 - Airframe hours: 3954.2 - Engines: CONT MOTOR C145 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, June 2, 2016 - Departed: PAE, Everett, WA - Destination: PAE, Everett, WA - Airport: PAE, Snohomish County (Paine Fld), runway 16L, 3,004 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 34; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review December 26, 2015; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 410 total, 2 in this make and model, 335 as pilot in command, 7 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days - Flight instructor; age 29; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review September 11, 2015; seat: right; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 907 total, 167 in this make and model, 839 as pilot in command, 139 in the last 90 days, 51 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 30.18 inHg - Observed at: KPAE ## 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 20160628020829A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160628020829A), Jun 28, 2016: Cessna 170A, Everett, WA, Substantial damage. Pilot was landing in a light crosswind in order to practice crosswind landings in the tailwheel aircraft. On roll out the aircraft veered to the left and… ## Other investigations on N401P (2) 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. - [NTSB FTW87LA192](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW87LA192), Aug 8, 1987: Cessna 170A (N401P), San Marcos, TX, substantial damage - [NTSB CHI80DEP57](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI80DEP57), Sep 21, 1980: Cessna 170A (N401P), Iola, WI, substantial damage ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 26, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93497. 2.9 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=40442584&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Instructor's Statement (item 2, .PDF, 529 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40442585&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Instructor%27s%20Statement-Master.PDF - Memorandum for Record - Telephone Interview, Pilot (item 3, .PDF, 124 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40442586&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20-%20Telephone%20Interview,%20Pilot-Master.PDF - Accident Photo (Courtesy of Flight Instructor) (item 4, .PDF, 1 photo, 304 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40442587&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photo%20(Courtesy%20of%20Flight%20Instructor)-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.