LAX05CA233

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 170B · Prescott, AZ · July 14, 2005

Accident · Minor injuriesData collectionFinal report
Date
July 14, 2005, 09:52 local (16:52 UTC)
Place
Prescott, AZ
Injuries
1 minor
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N2958DCessna 170B
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report October 27, 2005
Report
Approved by Office Director
Parties
Federal Aviation Administration Scottsdale FSDO
Case key
61983

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 misjudged flare, and excessive use of the elevator control, which resulted in a failure to maintain adequate airspeed and a stall/mush.

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.

Loss of control - in flightLanding - flare/touchdown
Flare - misjudgedPilot in commandCause
Elevator - excessivePilot in commandCause
Airspeed(vso) - not maintainedPilot in commandCause
Stall/mush - encounteredPilot in command
In flight collision with terrain/waterLanding - flare/touchdown
Terrain condition - berm

Analysis

The airplane stalled during the landing flare and impacted terrain. During the approach for runway 21R, the pilot noticed that the airplane was above glide slope, and added another notch of flaps. The airplane remained on glide slope until the landing flare. The pilot said he rounded out too late and overreacted by pulling back too hard on the control yoke. The left wing dropped, and the pilot pushed the yoke forward and to the right while increasing throttle. The airplane was no longer in line with the runway and was facing rising terrain. The pilot then pulled back on the yoke to avoid the ground. The left wing dropped again and the airplane pitched down and to the left, impacting terrain. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane.

Factual narrative

On July 14, 2005, about 0952 mountain standard time, a Cessna 170B, N2958D, impacted terrain near runway 21R at the Ernest A. Love Field Airport, Prescott, Arizona. The pilot was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The student pilot, the sole occupant, sustained minor injuries; the airplane sustained substantial damage. The instructional cross-country flight departed Cottonwood Airport, Cottonwood, Arizona, about 0920 en route to Prescott. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed.

In a written statement, the pilot reported that he had attempted to land on runway 21L at Prescott. He ballooned during the flare, and decided to go-around. He was instructed by the control tower to make right traffic for runway 21R. During his second approach, he noted that the airplane was above glide slope. He then decided to add another notch of flaps. The airplane remained on glide slope until the landing flare. The pilot stated that during the flare, he rounded out too late and overreacted by pulling back too hard on the control yoke. The left wing dropped, and the pilot pushed the yoke forward and to the right while increasing the throttle. After recovering, the pilot stated that he was no longer in line with the runway and that he was facing rising terrain. He pulled back again on the control yoke in order to avoid the terrain. The left wing dropped again and the airplane pitched downward and to the left. The airplane then impacted terrain. The pilot exited the airplane and noticed that fuel was leaking onto the ground. At that point, he secured the airplane.

The pilot had 102 total flight hours and 88 total flight hours in this make and model of airplane. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane.

Aircraft

Registration
N2958D
Reported as
Cessna 170B
Category
Airplane
Serial number
26901
Engine
Continental O-300-A, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Instructional · Part 91
Operator
William Hyslip
Registered owner
John Kennedy
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Departed
P52 · Cottonwood, AZ
Destination
PRC · Prescott, AZ
Airport
PRC · Ernest A. Love Field Airport, runway 21R, 4,846 × 60 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
Student pilot
Age
65
Injuries
Minor
Certificate
Student
Medical
Class 3
Flight hours
102 total · 88 in this make and model · 12 in the last 90 days · 12 in the last 30 days

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
Calm
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
91 °F, dew point 39 °F
Altimeter
30.12 inHg
Observed at
PRC

Other investigations on N2958D · 2

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