# NTSB LAX01LA209: Cessna 170B, N4338B, Payson, AZ, June 15, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 15, 2001, 07:45 local (14:45 UTC) - Place: Payson, AZ - Coordinates: 34.256942, -111.48944 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.2569&lon=-111.4894&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 28, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 52513 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX01LA209 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/52513/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX01LA209 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control and improper corrective action while landing in a quartering tailwind condition. A contributing factor was his lack of experience in the type of operation. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - lack of total experience in type operation, pilot in command (contributing factor) - remedial action - improper, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor) - directional control - not obtained/maintained, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - berm ## Analysis The pilot touched down on runway 24 with a light (3 knot) right quartering tailwind from 040 degrees. The airplane bounced and the pilot overcorrected during his attempted recovery. The pilot lost directional control following application of brakes. During his overcorrection, the airplane's tires deposited 300 feet of skid marks on the runway following which the airplane veered off the side of the runway. The pilot indicated that the accident could have been prevented had he acquired more experience handling his airplane in the existing conditions. ## Factual narrative On June 15, 2001, about 0745 hours mountain standard time, a Cessna 170B, N4338B, veered off runway 24 and collided with an embankment following a bounced landing at the Payson Airport, Payson, Arizona. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and no flight plan was filed. The personal flight was performed under 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot owned and operated the airplane, and it was substantially damaged during the mishap. Neither the private pilot nor the pilot-rated passenger was injured. The flight originated from the Falcon Field, Mesa, Arizona, about 0715. The pilot verbally indicated to the National Transportation Safety Board investigator that the airplane initially touched down smoothly but it subsequently bounced, and he attempted to recover. The stall warning horn activated, directional control was lost, and while depositing about 300 feet of skid marks on the runway's surface, the airplane exited off the side of the runway. The pilot-rated passenger verbally indicated to the Safety Board investigator that the pilot's final approach was normal, and the pilot performed a perfect, smooth wheel landing. However, the airplane then began veering left and the pilot attempted to correct. He overcorrected when heavy brakes were applied, and the airplane veered right and exited off the side of the runway. In the pilot's completed accident report, he indicated that he had overcorrected for the crosswind condition upon encountering a wind gust. He also reported that his total experience flying airplanes was 84.8 hours, of which 47.2 hours were as pilot-in-command in the accident model of airplane. He indicated that the accident could have been prevented had he more training handling the airplane in crosswind and gust conditions. According to the airport’s Automatic Weather Observation System (AWOS) about 0800 the local wind was from 040 degrees. Its speed was 3 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4338B](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4338B-2007-09-18), registration cancelled 2007-09-18, S/N 26682, built 1955 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 170B - Registry model: [Cessna 170B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-170b) (registry code 2072306) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (registry code 17022, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 26682 - Airframe hours: 2664 - Engines: Continental O-300 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Joe F. West - Registered owner: Joe F. West - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, March 14, 2001, 30 hours before - Departed: FFZ, Mesa, AZ - Destination: PAN, Payson - Airport: PAN, Payson, runway 24, 5,500 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 41; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 85 total, 65 in this make and model, 85 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 40° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 14 °F - Altimeter: 30.13 inHg - Observed at: PAN ## 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 20010615014349A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010615014349A), Jun 15, 2001: Cessna 170B, Payson, AZ, Substantial damage. (.19)On June 15, 2001, about 0800 hours mountain standard time, a Cessna 170B, N4338B, operated by the pilot, veered off runway 24 and collided with an… ## Other investigations on N4338B (1) 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 LAX02LA168](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX02LA168), May 19, 2002: Cessna 170B (N4338B), Show Low, AZ, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's improper recovery from a bounced landing resulted in a loss of aircraft control. A factor was a sudden wind shift on final approach. 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.