# NTSB LAX06CA137: Cessna 170A, N5561C, Hanford, CA, April 6, 2006 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: April 5, 2006, 18:15 local (Apr 6, 2006, 01:15 UTC) - Place: Hanford, CA - Coordinates: 36.316665, -119.627502 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.3167&lon=-119.6275&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 29, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 63474 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX06CA137 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/63474/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX06CA137 ## Probable cause the pilot's failure to maintain directional control. ## 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 - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - soft - Nose over, landing - roll ## Analysis The airplane ground looped while on the landing roll. The pilot, who had just purchased the airplane and only had 11 hours experience in tail wheel equipped aircraft, was attempting a wheel landing with no flaps. Upon touchdown, the airplane veered to the left of the runway centerline. The pilot lowered the tail wheel, and as it came into contact with the runway surface, the airplane swerved to the right. The pilot attempted to correct the veering by applying full left rudder input and brake pressure. With the airplane diverging about 30 degrees from the runway centerline, the pilot opted to make a go-around and applied full power. The airplane departed off the right side of the runway into the soft mud of a recently plowed field. The airplane nosed over when the landing gear encountered soft mud. ## Factual narrative The airplane ground looped while on the landing roll. The pilot stated that the purpose of the flight was to practice takeoff and landings in his recently purchased tail wheel equipped airplane. On the first landing he configured the airplane for a wheel landing with no flaps. Upon touchdown, the airplane bounced slightly and the pilot applied power and forward pressure on the control yoke. The airplane veered to the left of the runway centerline and the pilot manipulated the control yoke aft in an effort to lower the tail wheel. As the tail wheel came into contact with the runway surface, the airplane swerved to the right. The pilot attempted to correct the veering by applying full left rudder input and brake pressure. With the airplane diverging about 30 degrees from the runway centerline, the pilot opted to make a go-around and applied full power. The airplane departed off the right side of the runway into the soft mud of a recently plowed field. The airplane ground looped and subsequently nosed over, incurring damage to the wings and rudder. The pilot reported calm winds. He stated that the accident may have been prevented if he had received more dual instruction on a tail wheel equipped airplane. The pilot had a total flying experience of 5,500 hours, of which 11 hours were amassed in a tail wheel equipped airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5561C](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5561C), registered now, S/N 19614, built 1950 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 170A - Registry model: [Cessna 170A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-170a) (registry code 2072304) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (registry code 17022, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 19614 - Engines: Continental O-300A reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility - Departed: HJO, Hanford, CA - Destination: HJO, Hanford, CA - Airport: HJO, Hanford Municipal Airport, runway 32, 5,175 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 46; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1; flight hours: 5,500 total, 11 in this make and model, 11 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F - Altimeter: 30.02 inHg ## 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 20060405004949A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060405004949A), Apr 5, 2006: Cessna 170A, Hanford, CA, Substantial damage. (-23) The pilot departed khjo to practice takeoffs and landings. On his first approach to runway 32, he made a wheel landing and reported that the aircraft… 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.