LAX03LA146

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 170A · Twentynine Palm, CA · May 1, 2003

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
May 1, 2003, 14:00 local (21:00 UTC)
Place
Twentynine Palm, CA
Injuries
2 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N1607DCessna 170A
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report October 28, 2004
Report
Approved by Office Director
Parties
Federal Aviation Administration
FAA report
20030501028489A
Case key
56940

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

The pilot's inadequate compensation and his failure to maintain aircraft control. The gusty wind condition was a contributing factor.

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.

Nose overLanding - roll
Weather condition - gustsFactor
Compensation for wind conditions - inadequatePilot in commandCause
Aircraft control - not maintainedPilot in commandCause

Analysis

During the landing rollout the airplane encountered a gust of wind and nosed over. The pilot stated that approaching the airport he had received the local weather information from the airport's Unicom, which indicated the wind was from 320 degrees, at 12 knots, with occasional 28-knot gusts. The pilot made a straight-in approach and touched down without incident on runway 26. During the rollout, a wind gust was encountered. The pilot indicated that despite his efforts at maintaining airplane control, he lost control and the airplane nosed over on the runway.

Factual narrative

On May 1, 2003, about 1400 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 170A, N1607D, nosed over during landing rollout at the Twentynine Palms (uncontrolled) Airport, Twentynine Palms, California. The airplane, operated by the pilot, was substantially damaged. Neither the commercial pilot nor the passenger was injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed during the personal flight that was performed under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. No flight plan was filed. The flight originated fromTehachapi, California, about 1250.

The pilot reported that approaching Twentynine Palms for landing he had received the local weather information from the airport's Unicom operator. The pilot indicated that the wind was from about 320 degrees at 12 knots, with occasional 28-knot gusts. The pilot made a straight-in approach and made a wheel landing without incident on runway 26, between 400 and 500 feet beyond the runway's threshold. During rollout, the airplane began to weathervane to the right. The pilot stated that he initially maintained directional control by applying rudder and left brake. However, as he lowered the tail he lost control when a wind gust was encountered, and the airplane nosed over on the runway. According to the pilot, during the accident no mechanical malfunctions or failures were experienced with the airplane.

Aircraft

Registration
N1607D
Reported as
Cessna 170A
Category
Airplane
Serial number
20249
Airframe hours
2,515
Engine
Continental C-145, 145 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Operator
Alvin Couturier
Registered owner
Phil E. Neff
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · May 14, 2002 · 14 hours before
Departed
TSP · Tehachapi, CA
Destination
TNP · Twentynine Palm, CA
Airport
TNP · Twentynine Palms, runway 26, 5,531 × 50 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
58
Injuries
None
Certificates
Flight instructor, Commercial
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Last flight review
August 20, 2002
Seat
Right
Flight hours
9,201 total · 340 in this make and model · 8,800 as pilot in command · 55 in the last 90 days · 12 in the last 30 days · 6 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
Variable at 3 knots
Visibility
7 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
70 °F, dew point 25 °F
Altimeter
29.93 inHg
Observed at
NXP, 15 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.

Other investigations on N1607D · 1

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.