- Date
- June 18, 2012, 19:00 local (Jun 19, 2012, 02:00 UTC)
- Place
- Pullman, WA
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N2580DCessna 170B
- Defining event
- Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 13, 2012
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Western Pacific Region
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administation
- FAA report
- 20120618011419A
- Case key
- 84025
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 while landing in gusting crosswind conditions and the flight instructor’s delayed remedial action.
Findings · 4
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 flight instructor was providing tailwheel instruction to a pilot who was going to purchase the accident airplane. They had completed 10.7 hours and 56 landings. Because the pilot planned to depart the following morning with the current airplane owner, the flight instructor said that he felt pressure to complete the pilot’s training that day. While practicing three point landings, the wind was gusting to 19 knots. After touchdown, the airplane began tracking to the right. The flight instructor stated that he was guarding the controls closely but delayed assuming control of the airplane to let the pilot correct the situation on his own. The airplane then swerved to the right, and the flight instructor was unable to regain directional control despite full application of left rudder and brake. When the airplane ran off the runway, the airplane’s left wing and aft fuselage were damaged. The flight instructor reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
The certified flight instructor (CFI) was providing tailwheel instruction to a pilot who was going to purchase the accident airplane. They had completed 10.7 hours and 56 landings. The pilot planned to depart the following morning with the airplane owner so the CFI felt pressure to complete the pilot’s training. While practicing three point landings, the wind was gusting to 19 knots. After touchdown, the airplane began tracking to the right. The CFI was guarding the controls closely, but consciously tried to let the pilot recover on his own. The airplane then entered a swerve to the right which he was unable to correct with full application of left rudder and brake. The CFI reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N2580D
- Reported as
- Cessna 170B
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 20732
- Airframe hours
- 7,100
- Engine
- Lycoming O-360-A1D, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Operator
- Inter-State Aviation
- Registered owner
- Peter W Kuckenberg
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · October 2, 2011 · 34 hours before
- Departed
- KPUW · Pullman, WA
- Destination
- KPUW · Pullman, WA
- Airport
- KPUW · Pullman/Moscow Regional, runway 23, 6,730 × 100 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 · 2
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Flight instructor
- Age
- 27
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Commercial, Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land, Single-engine sea
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- May 22, 2012
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 1,825 total · 11 in this make and model
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 29
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- May 25, 2012
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 86 total · 11 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 240° at 11 knots, gusting 19
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 9,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 57 °F, dew point 41 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.87 inHg
- Observed at
- KPUW
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 11, 2012, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 2.1 MB 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 N2580D · 3
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.