- Date
- October 14, 2011, 10:05 local (17:05 UTC)
- Place
- Ramona, CA
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N8261ACessna 170B
- Defining event
- Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 1, 2011
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Western Pacific Region
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Adminstration FSDO
- FAA report
- 20111014025319A
- Case key
- 82070
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 of the airplane during the landing roll.
Findings · 2
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane was performing the last approach after a series of touch-and-go takeoffs and landings. The airplane bounced after the main wheels touched the runway, and veered to the left. The pilot applied rudder and aileron control inputs; however, the airplane continued to pull to the left. As the airplane approached the runway edge, the pilot applied the brakes, but the airplane departed the runway and nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and the aft fuselage structure during the accident sequence. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. She further stated that the accident could have been avoided if she had reacted to the divergence sooner and applied full aft elevator control during the roll.
Factual narrative
The private pilot of the tailwheel equipped airplane was performing the last approach after a series of touch-and-go landings. The airplane bounced after the main wheels touched the runway, and the airplane veered to the left. The pilot applied rudder and aileron control inputs, however, the airplane continued to pull to the left. As the airplane approached the runway edge, she applied the brakes, and the airplane subsequently departed the runway and nosed over. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. She further stated that the accident could have been avoided if she reacted to the divergence sooner, and applied full aft elevator control during the roll. Winds at the time of the accident were calm. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and the aft fuselage structure during the accident sequence.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N8261A
- Reported as
- Cessna 170B
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 25113
- Airframe hours
- 5,200
- Engine
- Cont Motor O-300 D, 145 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · August 1, 2011 · 10 hours before
- Departed
- RNM · Ramona, CA
- Destination
- RNM · Ramona, CA
- Airport
- RNM · Ramona, runway 27, 5,001 × 150 ft, asphalt
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
- 58
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- September 29, 2011
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 588 total · 242 in this make and model · 374 as pilot in command · 7 in the last 90 days · 4 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 82 °F, dew point 39 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.90 inHg
- Observed at
- RNM
Docket · 4
The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 20, 2011, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 562 KB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N8261A · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.