- Date
- November 28, 1996, 07:39 local (15:39 UTC)
- Place
- El Cajon, CA
- Injuries
- 4 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N1729DCessna 170A
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 30, 1997
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19961128036779A
- Case key
- 29693
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
failure of the pilot to maintain directional control, which resulted in a ground swerve. The pilot's low total time in conventional gear aircraft was a related 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.
Analysis
The pilot initiated a takeoff on runway 27L in calm wind conditions. Witnesses reported that the aircraft was in the initial part of the takeoff roll, when it ground looped to the left. During the occurrence, the right wing was damaged. Review of the pilot's flight time revealed that he had very few hours in a conventional gear aircraft.
Factual narrative
On November 28, 1996, at 0739 hours Pacific standard time, a Cessna 170A, N1729D, ground looped on the takeoff ground roll at the El Cajon, California, airport. The aircraft was operated by the pilot and was originating as a cross-country personal flight to Borrego Springs, California. No flight plan was filed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and included calm wind conditions. The aircraft incurred substantial damage. The certificated private pilot and the three passengers were not injured.
The pilot initially spoke with an FAA inspector from the San Diego, California, Flight Standards District Office. The FAA inspector reported that his review of the pilot's flight time revealed that he had very few hours in a conventional gear aircraft. Ground witnesses, including the controllers on duty in the Air Traffic Control Tower, reported that the aircraft was in the initial part of the takeoff ground roll on runway 27L when it ground looped to the left, bending the right wing.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N1729D
- Reported as
- Cessna 170A
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 20172
- Engine
- Continental C-145, 145 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Dennis A. Treadwell
- Registered owner
- Washington Coast Flying Club
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- SEE
- Destination
- L08 · Borrego Springs, CA
- Airport
- SEE · Gillespie Field, runway 27L, 2,737 × 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
- Pilot
- Age
- 49
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 300 total · 5 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 40 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 55 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- SEE
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.