# NTSB GAA19CA161: Cessna L19, N4431C, Benton, KS, March 11, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: March 11, 2019, 13:30 local (18:30 UTC) - Place: Benton, KS - Coordinates: 37.774444, -97.113334 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.7744&lon=-97.1133&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: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 6, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 99092 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA19CA161 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/99092/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99092 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA161 ## Probable cause The pilot's receiving instruction’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll, which resulted in impact with trees and a house. ## 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 L-19E, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2074016), [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 · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna L-19E, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2074016), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna L-19E, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md?model=2074016), [All aircraft, 933 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: residence/building](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022022): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna L-19E, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022022/cases.md?model=2074016), [All aircraft, 58 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022022/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 L-19E, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2074016), [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 L-19E, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=2074016), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Landing: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Cessna L-19E, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2074016), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna L-19E, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2074016), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot receiving instruction toward a commercial certificate in the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, while practicing a power-off 180° approach, upon landing, the airplane veered sharply right. The pilot attempted to correct with opposite rudder; however, the airplane exited the right side of the runway, impacted a tree, and then came to rest after impacting a house. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left and right wings. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. About the time of the accident, an automated weather reporting station located 5 miles west of the accident site reported that the wind was from 080° at 4 knots. The pilot landed the airplane on runway 17. ## Factual narrative The pilot receiving instruction toward a commercial certificate in the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, while practicing a power-off 180° approach, upon landing, the airplane veered sharply to the right. The pilot attempted to correct with opposite rudder; however, the airplane exited the right side of the runway, impacted a tree and came to rest after impacting a house. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left and right wings. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. About the time of the accident, an automated weather reporting station, located 5 miles west of the accident site, reported that the wind was from 080° at 4 knots. The pilot landed the airplane on runway 17. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4431C](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4431C-2025-09-27), registration cancelled 2025-09-27, S/N 24549 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna L19 (E) - Registry model: [Cessna L-19E](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-l-19e) (registry code 2074016) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 24549 - Year built: 1957 - Airframe hours: 7650 - Engines: Continental O-470-11 213 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 1, 2018 - Departed: 1K1, Benton, KS - Destination: 1K1, Benton, KS - Airport: 1K1, Lloyd Stearman Field, runway 17, 2,500 × 100 ft, grass/turf - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 65; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 23, 2018; seat: front; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,956 total, 298 in this make and model - Flight instructor; age 35; injuries: minor; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review December 11, 2017; seat: rear; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 2,000 total, 8.3 in this make and model, 90 in the last 90 days, 35 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 80° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,500 ft broken - Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 30.32 inHg - Observed at: KAAO, 5 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 20190311001159A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190311001159A), Mar 11, 2019: Cessna L-19E, Benton, KS, Substantial damage. Persuant to the pilot's statement: the pilots were doing commercial power off 180 landing on 17 turf at Stearman. Pulled power at pattern altitude to idle… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 26, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99092. 995 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 655 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40472232&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Accident Photo (item 2, .PDF, 1 photo, 340 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40472233&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photo-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.