# NTSB OAK75DVD09: Cessna 170B, N4344B, Willits, CA, July 15, 1974

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: July 15, 1974
- Place: Willits, CA · WILLITS, CA
- Location: 39.4050° N, 123.3489° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Willits, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.4050&lon=-123.3489&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 6, 1974
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 132612
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=OAK75DVD09
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK75DVD09

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3049  74/7/15    WILLITS,CALIF       CESSNA 170B         CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 59, 560
        TIME - 1000                    N4344B              PX-  0  0  0  BUSINESS                  TOTAL HOURS, 470 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - WILLITS ARPT
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          FORT BRAGG,CALIF            WILLITS,CALIF
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           GROUND-WATER LOOP-SWERVE                                 LANDING: ROLL
           NOSE OVER/DOWN                                           LANDING: ROLL
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - UNFAVORABLE WIND CONDITIONS
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          CLEAR                                                    UNLIMITED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  RELATIVE BEARING OF WIND
          NONE                                                     RIGHT CROSS WIND 068-112 DEGREES
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          250                                                       8
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- OBS STATED X-WIND 5 TO 8K.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4344B](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4344B), registered now, S/N 26688, built 1955 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 170B
- Registry model: [Cessna 170B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-170b) (registry code 2072306) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental 0-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (registry code 17022, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Willits Arpt

## 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 19740715032759A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19740715032759A), Jul 15, 1974: Cessna 170B, Willits, CA, Substantial damage. OBS stated x-wind 5 to 8K.

## Other investigations on N4344B (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 WPR21LA083](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21LA083), Jan 8, 2021: Cessna 170B (N4344B), Palouse, WA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The student pilot’s improper landing flare and loss of directional control and the flight instructor’s delayed remedial action resulted in a runway excursion and nose over.

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.