- Date
- April 7, 1991, 11:40 local (15:40 UTC)
- Place
- Newburyport, MA
- Injuries
- 3 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N3108ACessna 170B
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 5, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19910407014399A
- Case key
- 36902
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 pilot failing to compensate adequately for adverse wind conditions during takeoff.
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 stated he lost control of the airplane during takeoff in a gusty crosswind. He said, 'aircraft...almost instantly veered off to the left due to a sudden gust of wind.' The wind was nearly a 90 degree crosswind with gusts to 20 knots. A post accident investigation revealed no malfunctions of the flight control system or the engine.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N3108A
- Reported as
- Cessna 170B
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 25752
- Engine
- Continental C-145-2, 145 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Ronald E. Gaff
- Registered owner
- Ronald E. Gaff
- Last inspection
- Unknown · January 2, 2000
- Destination
- BVY · Beverly, MA
- Airport
- 2B2 · Plum Island, runway 28, 252 × 50 ft, asphalt
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 39
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Flight hours
- 312 total · 250 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 220° at 15 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 64 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.