# NTSB GAA18CA339: Cessna 170, N170W, Benson, AZ, June 10, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 10, 2018, 09:45 local (16:45 UTC) - Place: Benson, AZ - Coordinates: 31.999444, -110.358055 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.9994&lon=-110.3581&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 March 18, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 97456 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA18CA339 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/97456/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97456 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA339 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during landing. ## 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 170B, 91 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072306), [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 170B, 74 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2072306), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/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 170B, 84 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2072306), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Cessna 170B, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=2072306), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, during the landing roll, the tailwheel-equipped airplane veered left and began to bounce. He applied right rudder correction, which quickly turned the airplane right toward the centerline, and he then applied left rudder to realign with the runway heading. He increased the engine power setting to full to perform a go-around, but the airplane, during its third bounce, ground looped to the left. The right wing impacted the ground, and the airplane came to rest on its right side with the wing at a 90° angle. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that the automated weather observation system located on the airport reported that, about 15 minutes before the accident, the wind was light and variable at 2 knots, gusting to 5 knots. The airplane landed on runway 28. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that, during the landing roll, the tailwheel-equipped airplane veered to the left and began to bounce. He applied right rudder correction, which quickly turned the airplane right towards centerline, and then applied left rudder to realign with runway heading. He increased the engine power setting to full to perform a go around, but the airplane, on its third bounce, ground looped to the left. The right wing impacted the ground and the airplane came to rest on its right side with the wing at a 90° angle. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that the automated weather observation system located on the airport reported that, about 15 minutes before the accident, the wind was light and variable at 2 knots, gusting to 5 knots. The airplane landed on runway 28. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N170W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N170W-2019-09-20), registration cancelled 2019-09-20, S/N 25596, built 1953 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 170 (B) - Registry model: [Cessna 170B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-170b) (registry code 2072306) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C145 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c145-series) (registry code 17012, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 25596 - Year built: 1953 - Airframe hours: 2856.6 - Engines: CONT MOTOR O-300A 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 4, 2018 - Departed: E95, Benson, AZ - Destination: E95, Benson, AZ - Airport: E95, Benson Muni, runway 28, 4,002 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 40; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: basicmed, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 1, 2016; seat: left; flight hours: 137 total, 7 in this make and model, 90 as pilot in command, 7 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 14 knots, gusting 20 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 95 °F, dew point -8 °F - Altimeter: 30.01 inHg - Observed at: KALK, 24 nm away ## 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 20180610024249A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180610024249A), Jun 10, 2018: Cessna 170B, Benson, AZ, Substantial damage. Pilot was practicing take off/landings. The pilot took off with a slight tail wind pilot failed to notice the wind had shifted around to a slight quartering… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 15, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97456. 1.0 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 838 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40467388&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Photo (item 2, .PDF, 1 photo, 163 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40467389&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo-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.