- Date
- July 28, 2007, 01:15 local (07:15 UTC)
- Place
- Arco, ID
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N3446CCessna 170 B
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report November 29, 2007
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- Boise Flight Standards District Office
- FAA report
- 20070728014839A
- Case key
- 66321
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's failure to maintain directional control during takeoff. The crosswind condition was a factor.
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 reported that he initiated the takeoff roll on runway 24, with the wind estimated to be from 315 degrees at 8-10 knots. After sufficient acceleration, the pilot moved the yoke forward in order to raise the tailwheel off the ground. As the tail began to rise, the aircraft immediately became airborne and "aggressively drifted" to the left. The pilot was unable to correct for the deviation, and flew towards the south, away from the runway heading. The aircraft then flew over a 10 foot deep depression in the ground and descended. At the end of the depression, where the terrain rose back up to ground level, the aircraft impacted a barbed wire fence. The pilot was able to set the aircraft down in a small clearing past the fence, but due to a sloped area ahead, the pilot intentionally ground looped the aircraft to the right. The aircraft nosed over, coming to rest inverted.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that he initiated the takeoff roll on runway 24, with the wind estimated to be from 315 degrees at 8-10 knots. After sufficient acceleration, the pilot moved the yoke forward in order to raise the tailwheel off the ground. As the tail began to rise, the aircraft immediately became airborne and "aggressively drifted" to the left. The pilot was unable to correct for the deviation, and flew towards the south, away from the runway heading. The aircraft then flew over a 10 foot deep depression in the ground and descended. At the end of the depression, where the terrain rose back up to ground level, the aircraft impacted a barbed wire fence. The pilot was able to set the aircraft down in a small clearing past the fence, but due to a sloped area ahead, the pilot intentionally ground looped the aircraft to the right. The aircraft nosed over, coming to rest inverted.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N3446C
- Reported as
- Cessna 170 B
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 26489
- Airframe hours
- 3,351.5
- Engine
- Lycoming O-360-A1A, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- James V. Plake
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · August 1, 2006
- Departed
- KAOC · Arco, ID
- Airport
- NONE · Off Airport
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
- Pilot
- Age
- 63
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- April 1, 2006
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 1,144 total · 290 in this make and model · 985 as pilot in command · 55 in the last 90 days · 42 in the last 30 days · 6 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 315° at 10 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 81 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.