# NTSB NYC88LA059: Cessna 170A, N5571C, Sandwich, MA, December 22, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: December 22, 1987, 12:29 local (17:29 UTC)
- Place: Sandwich, MA
- Location: 41.7571° N, 70.4980° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Sandwich, MA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.7571&lon=-70.4980&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report June 26, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 36078
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC88LA059
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/36078/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC88LA059

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering
  - low pass - performed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - pull-up - initiated, pilot in command
  - airspeed(vs) - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
  - impairment(drugs), pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - diverted attention, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE CESSNA 170A WAS ON AN AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY FLT. WITNESSES RPRTD THE ACFT WAS FLYING SLOW AT ABOUT 200 FT AGL WHEN IT BEGAN TO SETTLE. THE WITNESSES THEN HEARD AN INCREASE IN ENG POWER & SAW THE ACFT PITCH UP. SUBSEQUENTLY, IT 'FELL OFF ON A WING,'  CRASHED IN A STEEP DSCNT & BURNED. DUE TO IMPACT & FIRE DAMAGE, INVESTIGATORS COULD NOT DETERMINE IF THE PLT WAS WEARING A SEAT BELT. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND. THE 72 YEAR OLD PLT'S LAST MEDICAL CERTIFICATE WAS DATED 6/13/85 & HIS LAST BIENNIAL FLT REVIEW WAS ABOUT 34 MONTHS PRIOR TO THE ACDNT. A TOXICOLOGY CHECK REVEALED THE PRESENCE OF DESMETHYLDIAZEPAM, AN ACTIVE METABOLITE OF DIAZEPAM (VALIUM), IN THE AMOUNT OF 0.1 UG/ML. ACCORDING TO THE TOXICOLOGY RPRT, 0.1 TO 2.1 UG/ML OF DIAZEPAM IS A THERAPEUTIC LVL.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5571C](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5571C-1988-04-07), registration cancelled 1988-04-07, S/N 19624 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 170A
- Registry model: [Cessna 170A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-170a) (registry code 2072304) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 19056
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-300 145 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Part 91
- Registered owner: Richard C. Kelsey, Sr.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 20, 1987
- Departed: 0B6, CHATHAM, MA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 72; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; medical: class 2, expired; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 3,320 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none

## 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 19871222070969A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19871222070969A), Dec 22, 1987: Cessna 170A, Sandwich, MA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. On photo flight, aircraft pitched up, stalled and crashed. Anticoagulant drug found in pilots system.

## Other investigations on N5571C (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 NYC87LA057](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC87LA057), Jan 9, 1987: Cessna 170A (N5571C), Marston Mills, MA, 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.

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