# NTSB MIA01LA116: Cessna 170B, N2488D, Penrose, NC, April 8, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 8, 2001, 14:35 local (18:35 UTC) - Place: Penrose, NC - Coordinates: 35.273334, -82.637779 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.2733&lon=-82.6378&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 30, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 52043 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA01LA116 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/52043/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA01LA116 ## Probable cause failure of the pilot to maintain directional control of the aircraft during the landing rollout while landing in a crosswind which resulted in a ground swerve and substantial damage to the aircraft. ## 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 - weather condition - gusts - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - crosswind - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command ## Analysis The pilot stated that he was making a wheel landing with about a 90-degree crosswind, and as he started to bring the tail of the aircraft down, it drifted to the left side of the runway. He further stated that he tried to control the aircraft with right rudder but it caused the ground loop. He said that prior to the accident there had been no malfunctions to the aircraft, or its systems. ## Factual narrative On April 8, 2001, about 1435 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 170B, N2488D, registered to, and operated by a private owner, as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, experienced a ground loop during landing at Penrose, North Carolina. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The commercial-rated pilot, the sole occupant of the aircraft, was not injured. The aircraft incurred substantial damage. The flight originated from Charleston, South Carolina, the same day, about 1230. The pilot stated that he was making a wheel landing with about a 90-degree crosswind, and as he started to bring the tail of the aircraft down, it drifted to the left side of the runway. The pilot further stated that he had tried to control the aircraft with right rudder, which caused the ground loop. He said it happened fast, and he did not have time to apply power or ailerons to save the aircraft, and the left side of the cabin, wing, and landing gear were damaged. The pilot stated that prior to the accident there had been no malfunctions to the aircraft, or its systems. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2488D](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2488D), registered now, S/N 20640, 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 C145 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c145-series) (registry code 17012, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 20640 - Airframe hours: 5153 - Engines: Teledyne Continental O-300 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: William C. Andersen - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 1, 2000, 77 hours before - Departed: JZI, Charleston, SC - Destination: NC22, Penrose, NC - Airport: NC22, Transylvania County Airport, runway 09, 3,100 × 150 ft ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review August 21, 2000; seat: left; flight hours: 4,654 total, 176 in this make and model, 4,421 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 350° at 7 knots, gusting 14 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 30.11 inHg - Observed at: AVL, 10 nm away ## 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 20010408006159A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010408006159A), Apr 8, 2001: Cessna 170B, Sapphire, NC, No damage. (-23) Pilot stated to this inspector on 4/10/01 that he misinterpreted the wind direction and velocity that caused the a/c to ground loop. ## Other investigations on N2488D (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 DEN71DQA44](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN71DQA44), Feb 2, 1971: Cessna 170B (N2488D), Albuquerque, NM, substantial damage 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.