- Date
- August 14, 1997, 16:25 local (20:25 UTC)
- Place
- Jamestown, NY
- Injuries
- 4 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N3454CCessna 170B
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report February 28, 2000
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19970814022459I
- Case key
- 28225
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 control of the airplane during a crosswind landing.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot stated that during a landing to Runway 25, the wind was from 350 degrees at 6 knots, gusting to 15 knots. The airplane turned to the right due to a rear quartering tailwind. He lost control of the airplane and 'ground looped.' The airplane rotated approximately 180 degrees, and the left main landing gear collapsed into the fuselage.
Factual narrative
On August 14, 1997, about 1625 Eastern Daylight Time, a Cessna 170B, N3454C, was substantially damaged during a landing at the Chautauqua County/Jamestown Airport (JHW), Jamestown, New York. The certificated private pilot and three passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local flight. No flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.
The pilot stated that during the landing to Runway 25, "...the aircraft began a turn to the right due to rear quartering tailwind. I lost control resulting in the aircraft to ground loop..." The pilot further stated that the wind was from 350 degrees at 6 knots, gusting to 15 knots. He was "...advised that landing aircraft were using Runway 25 [instead of Runway 31]." The airplane rotated approximately 180 degrees, and the left main landing gear collapsed into the fuselage. The airplane came to rest on the grass, off to the right side of the runway.
A Federal Aviation Administration Inspector examined the wreckage. He reported that the left main landing gear collapsed, the left wing strut was broken, and the front center spar was damaged. Flight control continuity was verified. No pre-impact mechanical malfunctions were found, nor did the pilot report any.
According to the JHW Automated Surface Observation System, at 1551, the winds were from 300 degrees at 7 knots.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N3454C
- Reported as
- Cessna 170B
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 26497
- Airframe hours
- 2,621
- Engine
- Lycoming O-340-A1A, 170 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Robert H. Campbell
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · October 24, 1996 · 20 hours before
- Departed
- JHW
- Airport
- JHW · Chautauqua County, runway 25, 5,299 × 100 ft, asphalt
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
- 60
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine sea, Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 1,027 total · 109 in this make and model · 881 as pilot in command · 19 in the last 90 days · 5 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 300° at 7 knots
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 68 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- JHW
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.