# NTSB SEA97LA053: Cessna 170B, N4590C, Toledo, WA, January 26, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 26, 1997, 12:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: Toledo, WA - Coordinates: 46.449054, -122.760734 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.4491&lon=-122.7607&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 25, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 42557 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA97LA053 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/42557/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA97LA053 ## Probable cause The pilot's excessive application of the brakes on a tailwheel equipped aircraft. Factors include the pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions, and a crosswind blowing at the time of the landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Nose over, landing - roll - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor) - brakes(normal) - excessive, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) ## Analysis While landing in a right crosswind, the right wing of the aircraft came up during the landing flare/touchdown. The pilot was unable to get the wing to come back down, and he therefore applied the brakes in an effort to maintain directional control. Because his braking became excessive, the tailwheel-equipped aircraft nosed over on the runway. The pilot reported that he did not use full aileron deflection in his attempt to get the wing to come down because he was afraid he might overcontrol. ## Factual narrative On January 26, 1997, approximately 1200 Pacific standard time, a Cessna 170B, N4590C, nosed over during the landing roll at Toledo-Winlock Airport, Toledo, Washington. The private pilot and his passenger were not injured, but the aircraft sustained substantial damage. The personal pleasure flight, which had a final destination of Pierce County Airport, Puyallup, Washington, was at the time of the accident being conducted in the traffic pattern at Toledo. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and no flight plan had been filed. There was no report of an ELT activation. According to the pilot, while landing in a right crosswind, the right wing of the aircraft raised and he could not get it to come back down. The aircraft touched down on the left main gear and the tailwheel, and because the right wing was still in the air, the pilot applied the brakes in an attempt to maintain directional control. While attempting to stop the tailwheel-equipped aircraft, it nosed over on the runway. In a post-accident interview with an FAA inspector, the pilot stated that he had not used full aileron when trying to lower the wing because he was afraid he might overcontrol. He also stated that he made a habit of landing with his feet positioned on the brakes because he had gone off the runway in a previous landing when he touched down without having his feet on the brakes. When the FAA notified the Safety Board of the nose-over on January 26, the damage to the aircraft was reported as minor. The Board was advised on January 31, that an FAA inspector had determined that the damage to the aircraft was substantial. At that time, the event was classified as an accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4590C](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4590C-2019-01-31), registration cancelled 2019-01-31, S/N 25534 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 170B - Registry model: [Cessna 170B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-170b) (registry code 2072306) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 25534 - Airframe hours: 5596 - Engines: Continental C-145-2 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: General Aviation, Inc. - Registered owner: Erika Gugger - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, November 15, 1996, 17 hours before - Departed: TDO - Airport: TDO, Toledo-Winlock, runway 23, 4,960 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 40; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 124 total, 16 in this make and model, 73 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 320° at 6 knots - Visibility: 50 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 37 °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 19970126001049A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970126001049A), Jan 26, 1997: Cessna 170B, Toledo, WA, Substantial damage. Left wing raised landing in crosswind. Used brakes. Nosed over. Wind light. Low time pilot lacked skill in type. ## Other investigations on N4590C (3) 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 ANC10LA065](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC10LA065), Jul 23, 2010: Cessna 170B (N4590C), Palmer, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's decision to make a low-altitude pass over a remote airstrip toward rising terrain in weather conducive to downdrafts. - [NTSB LAX00LA340](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX00LA340), Sep 16, 2000: Cessna 170B (N4590C), Alturus, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate compensation for the wind, and his failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during landing. A factor was the faded improperly maintained windsock. - [NTSB SEA73DYE36](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA73DYE36), May 26, 1973: Cessna 170B (N4590C), Auburn, WA, substantial damage 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.