# NTSB GAA17CA091: Cessna 170, N9002A, Martinsville, VA, December 5, 2016 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: December 5, 2016, 15:45 local (20:45 UTC) - Place: Martinsville, VA - Coordinates: 36.630554, -80.018058 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.6306&lon=-80.0181&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 7, 2017 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 94477 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA17CA091 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/94477/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94477 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA091 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [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 170, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2072302), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 170, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072302), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Wind: tailwind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on equipment; cases with it: [Cessna 170, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md?model=2072302), [All aircraft, 594 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 170, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2072302), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Cessna 170, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2072302), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, during the landing roll, the airplane veered left of centerline and that he attempted to correct with right brake input but was unsuccessful. The airplane continued to veer off the runway to the left, ground looped, and the right wing impacted the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. A review of recorded data from the automated weather observation station located on the airport revealed that, about 10 minutes before the accident, the wind was from 120° at 4 knots. The airplane landed on runway 30. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot of a tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that during the landing roll, the airplane veered left of center line, he attempted to correct with right brake input, but was unsuccessful. The airplane continued to veer off the runway to the left, ground looped, and the right wing impacted the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. A review of recorded data from the automated weather observation station located on the airport, revealed that, about 10 minutes before the accident the wind was 120° at 4 knots. The airplane landed on runway 30. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9002A](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9002A-2018-07-12), registration cancelled 2018-07-12, S/N 18757, built 1949 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 170 (A) - Registry model: [Cessna 170](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-170) (registry code 2072302) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C145 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c145-series) (registry code 17012, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18757 - Year built: 1949 - Airframe hours: 4151 - Engines: CONT MOTOR C145-2 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 11, 2016 - Departed: MTV, Martinsville, VA - Destination: MTV, Martinsville, VA - Airport: MTV, Blue Ridge, runway 30, 5,002 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 72; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review December 6, 2015; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,654 total, 646 in this make and model, 1,616 as pilot in command, 14 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 120° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 41 °F - Altimeter: 30.02 inHg - Observed at: KMTV ## 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 20161205023519A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20161205023519A), Dec 5, 2016: Cessna 170, Martinsville, VA, Substantial damage. The pilot landed and started drifting left on the roll out and ground looped the aircraft. ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 4, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94477. 1.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 649 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40453092&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Accident Photo (Courtesy of FAA) (item 2, .PDF, 1 photo, 488 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40451709&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photo%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.