# NTSB NYC94LA018: Cessna 170, N3975V, Williamstown, NJ, October 23, 1993

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: October 23, 1993, 12:10 local (16:10 UTC)
- Place: Williamstown, NJ
- Location: 39.6842° N, 74.9697° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Williamstown, NJ, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.6842&lon=-74.9697&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 20, 1994
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 38707
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC94LA018
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38707/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC94LA018

## Probable cause

Fatigue failure of the gear axle which resulted in the collapse of the left main gear.

## Sequence of events

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

- Gear collapsed, takeoff - roll/run
  - landing gear,axle - fatigue (cause)
- Nose over, takeoff - roll/run

## Analysis

THE AIRPLANE HAD STARTED THE TAKEOFF ROLL AND HAD TRAVELLED ABOUT 150 FEET WHEN THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR AXLE SEPARATED FROM THE AIRPLANE.  THE AIRPLANE SUBSEQUENTLY SWERVED LEFT AND THEN NOSED OVER.  THE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT FATIGUE CRACKING OCCURRED AT THE JUNCTION OF THE FLANGE AND MAIN LANDING GEAR AXLE, RESULTING IN THE FAILURE OF THE AXLE, AND SUBSEQUENT SEPARATION OF THE LANDING GEAR FROM THE AIRPLANE.

## Factual narrative

On Saturday, October 23, 1993, at about 1210 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 170, N3975V, piloted by Mr. Joseph Reimer Jr, nosed over during take off at the Southern Cross Airstrip, Williamstown, New Jersey.  The airplane was substantially damaged.  The pilot and the two passengers were not injured.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and no flight plan had been filed.  The flight was being conducted under 14 CFR 91.

The airplane had started the takeoff roll and had traveled about 150 feet when the left axle of the main landing gear fractured, and separated from the airplane.  The airplane ground looped and nosed over.

According to the FAA's Malfunction Report:

...main landing gear axle experienced fatigue      failure...the failure occurred at the junction which      was cracked along the flange of the main landing gear      axle, causing the left main landing gear to separate      from the aircraft...it is suspected that a crack may      have developed through normal operations, went      undetected during preflight and annual inspections...

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3975V](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3975V-1994-02-25), registration cancelled 1994-02-25, S/N 18294 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 170
- Registry model: [Cessna 170](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-170) (registry code 2072302) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18294
- Engines: CONTINENTAL C-145-2 145 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Joseph Reimer Sr.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Airport: NONE, Southern Cross, runway 27, 2,200 × 100 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 35; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, unknown; seat: left; flight hours: 442 total, 383 as pilot in command, 25 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 250° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 15 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19931023040559A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19931023040559A), Oct 23, 1993: Cessna 170, Williamstown, NJ, Substantial damage. Left main gear axle broke on takeoff roll. Swerved. Nosed over. Fatigue cracking at flange. Wheel departed plane.

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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