- Date
- August 13, 2003, 19:00 local (23:00 UTC)
- Place
- La Belle, FL
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N2987DCessna 170B
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report November 25, 2003
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 20030813019869A
- Case key
- 57722
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
The failure of the pilot to maintain directional control during takeoff resulting in ground looping and substantial damage.
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 student pilot stated that he aligned on the runway and he advanced power to begin the takeoff roll, and was well in control of the airplane. Once ground speed increased, he lifted the tail of the airplane. As the tail section lifted the aircraft veered to the left. He tried to correct for the left deviation but was unsuccessful and elected to abort the takeoff. The airplane then ground looped to the right incurring damage to the right wing and right elevator before coming to a complete stop. He also mentioned, he experienced no mechanical malfunction or failures with the aircraft systems.
Factual narrative
On August 13, 2003, about 1900 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 170B, N2987D, registered to and operated by an individual, ground looped on takeoff at La Belle Municipal Airport, La Belle, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and no flight plan was filed. The instructional flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The airplane incurred substantial damage and the student pilot was not injured. The flight was originating at the time.
The student pilot stated that he aligned on the runway and he advanced power to begin the takeoff roll, and was well in control of the airplane. Once ground speed increased, he lifted the tail of the airplane. As the tail section lifted the aircraft veered to the left. He tried to correct for the left deviation but was unsuccessful and elected to abort the takeoff. The airplane then ground looped to the right incurring damage to the right wing and right elevator before coming to a complete stop. He also mentioned, he experienced no mechanical malfunction or failures with the aircraft systems.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N2987D
- Reported as
- Cessna 170B
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 26930
- Airframe hours
- 3,747
- Engine
- Teledyne Continental O-300 SER, 145 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Kenneth Diaz
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- X14 · La Belle, FL
- Destination
- X14 · La Belle, FL
- Airport
- X14 · La Belle Municipal, runway 14, 3,410 × 50 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
- Student pilot
- Age
- 46
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Student
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 22 total · 17 in this make and model · 11 in the last 90 days · 6 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 230° at 7 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Temperature
- 84 °F, dew point 73 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.09 inHg
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N2987D · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.