# NTSB LAX98LA287: Cessna 170B, N8245A, San Jose, CA, September 10, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 9, 1998, 19:01 local (Sep 10, 1998, 02:01 UTC) - Place: San Jose, CA - Coordinates: 37.340274, -121.89949 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.3403&lon=-121.8995&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 22, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 43928 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX98LA287 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/43928/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX98LA287 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate compensation for the existing crosswind condition and 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, takeoff - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - compensation for wind conditions - improper, pilot in command (cause) - Nose over, takeoff - terrain condition - grass ## Analysis The pilot had been in the landing pattern with an instructor for approximately an hour. After his passenger arrived and took the instructor's place, he went out to practice a few more landings. He took off and made a normal 3-point landing. He retracted flaps, added full power, pushed forward on the yoke, and brought the tail up. Initially the airplane tracked straight down the runway, then began to drift and required him to apply left aileron and right rudder. As he adjusted to slightly realign the aircraft with the runway, it veered sharply and went into a grassy area off the runway and nosed over. ## Factual narrative On September 9, 1998, at 1901 hours Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 170B, N8245A, sustained substantial damage when it went off runway 30 right and nosed over at the San Jose International Airport, San Jose, California. The private pilot and his passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The pilot stated he had been in the pattern practicing touch-and-go landings with an instructor for approximately an hour. After his passenger arrived and took the instructor's place, he went out to practice a few more landings. He took off without incident, flew to downwind, and was cleared to land. A normal 3-point landing was accomplished and he prepared the airplane for departure. He retracted flaps, applied full power, pushed forward on the yoke, and raised the tail. After proceeding straight down the runway a short way the aircraft began to drift off centerline. The pilot stated he was correcting with left aileron and right rudder to bring the aircraft back to the left when it suddenly went off the runway. The aircraft departed the runway into a grassy area and overturned. Both wings were damaged, the prop was bent, the forward section of the fuselage was damaged, and the top of the vertical stabilizer was crushed. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8245A](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8245A), registered now, S/N 25097, built 1952 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 170B - Registry model: [Cessna 170B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-170b) (registry code 2072306) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (registry code 17022, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 25097 - Engines: Continental O-300 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Frank Mason, doing business as Squadron Two Flying Club Inc. - Registered owner: Gary Niva - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 1, 1998, 90 hours before - Departed: SJC - Airport: SJC, San Jose International, runway 30R, 4,419 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 46; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 157 total, 16 in this make and model, 84 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,700 ft broken - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: SJC ## 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 19980909022889A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980909022889A), Sep 9, 1998: Cessna 170B, San Jose, CA, Substantial damage. Acft was performing touch and go landings when it lost control and ground looped on landing and came to rest inverted. (-23) while PERF0RMING touch and go… ## Other investigations on N8245A (1) 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. - [NTSB WPR12CA132](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR12CA132), Mar 4, 2012: Cessna 170B (N8245A), San Jose, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot did not maintain directional control during the landing roll. 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.