# NTSB SEA96LA153: Cessna 170B, N3156A, Lewistown, MT, July 12, 1996

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 12, 1996, 16:00 local (22:00 UTC)
- Place: Lewistown, MT
- Location: 47.0493° N, 109.4667° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at LEWISTOWN MUNI (LWT), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.0493&lon=-109.4667&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report February 28, 1997
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 42416
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA96LA153
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/42416/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA96LA153

## Probable cause

the pilot's inadequate compensation for the changing wind conditions, and his failure to maintain directional control, which resulted in an inadvertent ground swerve.  The sudden windshift was a related factor.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing
  - weather condition - sudden windshift (contributing factor)
  - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

The pilot stated that he made an approach to land on the runway with a moderate crosswind. He stated that at about 3 feet above the runway, the wind died or reversed. The airplane bounced; during the bounce, the wind started to turn the airplane. The pilot was unable to control the directional change, and the airplane ground-looped, sustaining substantial damage.

## Factual narrative

On July 12, 1996, approximately 1600 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 170B, N3156A, sustained  substantial damage when it ground-looped during landing at Lewistown, Montana.  The private pilot and his passenger were uninjured.  A VFR flight plan was filed for the flight, which originated at Cut Bank, Montana about two hours earlier.  The ELT did not actuate.

The pilot stated that he had approached with a moderate crosswind, and at about 3 feet above the runway the wind died or reversed.  The airplane bounced; during the bounce the wind started to turn the airplane.  The pilot was unable to control the directional change and the airplane ground-looped, damaging the left wing tip and left elevator tip.

.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3156A](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3156A), registered now, S/N 25800, built 1953 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Cessna 170B
- Registry model: [Cessna 170B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-170b) (registry code 2072306) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental C145 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c145-series) (registry code 17012, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 25800
- Airframe hours: 3611
- Engines: Continental C-145 145 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Edward H. Cole
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 27, 1996, 61 hours before
- Departed: CTB, CUT BANK, MT
- Destination: LWT
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: LWT, Lewistown Municipal, runway 25, 5,600 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 55; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,142 total, 68 in the last 90 days, 59 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 280° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 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 19960712016989A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960712016989A), Jul 12, 1996: Cessna 170B, Lewistown, MT, Substantial damage. Bounced and ground looped landing. Gusty variable crosswind.

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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