- Date
- August 21, 2017, 11:20 local (16:20 UTC)
- Place
- Rochelle, IL
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N2486DCessna 170
- Defining event
- Landing: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report April 23, 2018
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20170821013549A
- Case key
- 95856
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 landing with a tailwind.
Findings · 3
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 touchdown, the wind shifted to a tailwind. He added that he attempted to go around but was unable. Subsequently, the airplane drifted to the left of the runway, the right main landing gear collapsed, and the right wing impacted the ground. The right wing sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. An automated weather observation station located on the airport reported that, about 5 minutes before the accident, the wind was from 220° at 14 knots, gusting to 19 knots. The airplane landed on runway 7.
Factual narrative
The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, during the landing touchdown, the wind shifted to a tailwind. He added that he attempted to go-around but was unable. Subsequently, the airplane drifted to the left of the runway, the right main landing gear collapsed, and the right wing impacted the ground. The right wing sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. A review of recorded data from the automated weather observation station located on the airport, reported that about 5 minutes before the accident, the wind was from 220° at 14 knots, gusting 19 knots. The airplane landed on runway 7.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N2486D
- Reported as
- Cessna 170 (B)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 20638
- Built
- 1952
- Airframe hours
- 5,785.58
- Engine
- Continental O300/C145-2, 145 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · January 17, 2017
- Departed
- 0C0 · Harvard, IL
- Destination
- RPJ · Rochelle, IL
- Airport
- RPJ · Rochelle Muni Airport-Koritz F, runway 07, 5,001 × 75 ft, asphalt
- Equipment
- Unknown
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
- 46
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- August 17, 2016
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 1,650 total · 75 in this make and model · 170 in the last 90 days · 18 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 220° at 14 knots, gusting 19
- Visibility
- 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 11,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 73 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.13 inHg
- Observed at
- KRPJ
Docket · 3
The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 13, 2018, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 1.6 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.