LAX06CA145

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 170B · Redlands, CA · April 23, 2006

Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal report
Date
April 23, 2006, 12:45 local (19:45 UTC)
Place
Redlands, CA
Injuries
3 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Takeoff
Aircraft
N3190ACessna 170B
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report August 29, 2006
Report
Approved by Office Director
Parties
Federal Aviation Administration
FAA report
20060423006299A
Case key
63558

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 student's inadequate compensation for the crosswind gust and failure to maintain directional control. Also causal was the flight instructor's inadequate supervision of the flight, and his failure to maintain directional control. A factor was control interference between the two pilots during the initial stages of the loss of control.

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 - on ground/waterTakeoff - roll/run
Weather condition - crosswindFactor
Compensation for wind conditions - inadequateDual studentCause
Weather condition - gustsFactor
Directional control - not maintainedFlightcrewCause
Ground loop/swerve - inadvertentPilot in command(cfi)
Supervision - inadequatePilot in command(cfi)Cause
Control interference - encounteredPilot in command(cfi)Factor
On ground/water encounter with terrain/waterTakeoff - roll/run
Terrain condition - ditch
Object - fence

Analysis

During the takeoff roll the pilots lost directional control of the airplane and swerved off the runway. The airplane was substantially damaged upon hitting a fence and came to rest in a gully 200 to 300 feet north of the runway. The certified flight instructor (CFI) indicated that he was providing dual instruction to his student, and they lost control of the airplane upon encountering a 90-degee, 10-knot, wind gust. He also reported that during the mishap there was control interference difficulties between himself and the student that made regaining control difficult.

Factual narrative

On April 23, 2006, about 1245 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 170B, N3190A, veered off the runway and collided with obstructions during takeoff from runway 26 at the Redlands Municipal Airport, California. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The airplane was substantially damaged. Neither the private pilot receiving instruction, the certified flight instructor (CFI), nor a passenger was injured. The flight was performed under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91, and it was originating at the time of the accident.

According to the CFI, during the takeoff roll a wind gust was encountered. Control of the airplane was lost. The airplane swerved off the runway, hit a fence, and came to rest in a gully between 200 and 300 feet north of runway 26. The student pilot reported to the National Transportation Safety Board investigator that he was receiving tail wheel instruction "when the aircraft became uncontrollable on takeoff." The CFI reported that a contributing factor in the accident was "control interference difficulties" between the pilot and the CFI.

The CFI reported that the wind was from 350 degrees, and it was gusting to 10 knots.

The CFI indicated that he has about 3,137 total hours of flying experience. The student had about 65 hours of experience.

Aircraft

Registration
N3190A
Reported as
Cessna 170B
Category
Airplane
Serial number
25834
Airframe hours
4,300
Engine
Continental O-300, 145 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Instructional · Part 91
Registered owner
Robert E. Spangler
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility
Last inspection
Annual · January 1, 2006
Departed
L12 · Redlands, CA
Destination
CCB · Upland, CA
Airport
L12 · Redlands Municipal, runway 26, 4,505 × 75 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 · 2

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Flight instructor
Age
61
Injuries
None
Certificates
Flight instructor, Commercial
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 2, With waivers/limitations
Last flight review
April 1, 2006
Seat
Right
Flight hours
3,137 total · 12 in this make and model · 3,093 as pilot in command · 64 in the last 90 days · 37 in the last 30 days · 5 in the last 24 hours
Role
Pilot
Age
37
Injuries
None
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
Last flight review
September 1, 2005
Seat
Left
Flight hours
65 total · 5 in this make and model · 5 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
350° at 10 knots, gusting 10
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
64 °F
Altimeter
29.89 inHg

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.