# NTSB LAX00LA340: Cessna 170B, N4590C, Alturus, CA, September 16, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 15, 2000, 17:50 local (Sep 16, 2000, 00:50 UTC) - Place: Alturus, CA - Coordinates: 41.430908, -120.529067 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.4309&lon=-120.5291&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 2, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 50294 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX00LA340 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/50294/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX00LA340 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate compensation for the wind, and his failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during landing. A factor was the faded improperly maintained windsock. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - airport facilities,wind direction indicator - not maintained (contributing factor) - Dragged wing,rotor,pod,float or tail/skid, landing - roll ## Analysis The pilot was unable to locate a windsock while circling the uncontrolled airport. He had obtained a preflight weather briefing from the FAA Red Bluff Flight Service Station with no adverse weather conditions noted; no local area wind information was obtained. He established a left pattern for runway 31; on final approach he determined there was a left crosswind for which he established a crab angle. On touchdown, the left wing came up, resulting in the right wing scraping the runway and a loss of directional control. ## Factual narrative On September 15, 2000, about 1750 hours Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 170B, N4590C, was substantially damaged during landing at Alturas, California. Neither the commercial rated pilot nor the three passengers were injured. The registered owner operated the airplane under 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a visual flight plan was filed for the personal flight. The flight originated at Concord, California, at 1530. The pilot stated that he was unable to locate a windsock while circling the uncontrolled airport. He had obtained a preflight weather briefing from the Federal Aviation Administration Red Bluff Flight Service Station, with no adverse weather conditions noted. No local area wind information was obtained. He established a left pattern for runway 31; on final approach he determined there was a left crosswind for which he established a crab angle. On touchdown, the left wing came up, resulting in the right wing scraping the runway and a loss of directional control. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4590C](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4590C-2019-01-31), registration cancelled 2019-01-31, S/N 25534 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 170B - Registry model: [Cessna 170B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-170b) (registry code 2072306) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 25534 - Airframe hours: 5950 - Engines: Continental C-145-2 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Samuel Black - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 18, 2000, 50 hours before - Departed: CCR, CONCORD, CA - Destination: AAT, ALTURAS, CA - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: AAT, Alturas Municipal, runway 31, 4,301 × 50 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 38; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 628 total, 38 in this make and model, 524 as pilot in command, 8 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 5 knots, gusting 15 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 176 °F ## 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 20000915010059A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000915010059A), Sep 15, 2000: Cessna 170B, Alturas, CA, Substantial damage. (-23) The pilot landed on runway 31 and encountered a gusty crosswind, causing him to loose control. Damage to the left landing gear, left wing, fuselage and… ## Other investigations on N4590C (3) 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. - [NTSB ANC10LA065](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC10LA065), Jul 23, 2010: Cessna 170B (N4590C), Palmer, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's decision to make a low-altitude pass over a remote airstrip toward rising terrain in weather conducive to downdrafts. - [NTSB SEA97LA053](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA97LA053), Jan 26, 1997: Cessna 170B (N4590C), Toledo, WA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's excessive application of the brakes on a tailwheel equipped aircraft. Factors include the pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions, and a crosswind blowing at the time of the… - [NTSB SEA73DYE36](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA73DYE36), May 26, 1973: Cessna 170B (N4590C), Auburn, WA, substantial damage 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.