- Date
- February 19, 2017, 14:45 local (19:45 UTC)
- Place
- Bally, PA
- Injuries
- 4 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N123GTCessna 180
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report April 10, 2017
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20170219006549A
- Case key
- 94767
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 directional control during takeoff in crosswind conditions.
Findings · 5
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 the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, during takeoff, the airplane encountered a wind gust and veered to the left. He corrected with right rudder and left aileron, and the airplane veered to the right. Subsequently, the airplane exited the runway to the right, the left main landing gear sheared off, and the airplane impacted two trees. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, empennage, and left wing. The pilot reported there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. A review of local weather at the airfield about the time of the accident showed the wind was 300° at 10 knots. The pilot was departing on runway 34.
Factual narrative
The pilot of the tailwheel equipped airplane reported that during takeoff the airplane encountered a gust of wind and veered to the left. He corrected with right rudder and left aileron, and the airplane veered to the right. Subsequently, the airplane exited the runway to the right, the left main landing gear sheared off, and the airplane impacted two trees. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, empennage and left wing. The pilot reported there were no pre-accident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. A review of local weather on the airfield about the time of the accident showed, the wind was 300° at 10 knots. The pilot was departing on runway 34.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N123GT
- Reported as
- Cessna 180 (H)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 18051689
- Built
- 1966
- Airframe hours
- 2,673.94
- Engine
- Cont Motor O-470-R, 230 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · November 19, 2016
- Departed
- 7N8 · Bally, PA
- Flight plan
- Unknown
- Airport
- 7N8 · Butter Valley Golf Port, runway 34, 2,420 × 85 ft, asphalt
- Equipment
- Handheld GPS
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
- 72
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- January 14, 2017
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 2,792 total · 843 in this make and model · 2,540 as pilot in command
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 300° at 10 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 66 °F, dew point 34 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.86 inHg
- Observed at
- KPTW
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 28, 2017, 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 N123GT · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.