- Date
- February 6, 2013, 14:30 local (21:30 UTC)
- Place
- Sunburst, MT
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N2619DCessna 170B
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Loss of control in flight
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 12, 2013
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Western Pacific Region
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- Case key
- 86165
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 compensate for the strong, gusting wind conditions, which resulted in a loss of airplane control during takeoff.
Findings · 3
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 taxied the airplane onto the runway most aligned with the wind and began the takeoff roll. Just as the airplane became airborne, a gust of wind lifted the right wing, and the left wing tip contacted the ground despite the pilot's application of full right aileron. The airplane came to rest, nose-down, facing opposite the direction of intended travel and sustained substantial damage to both wings and the left lift strut. The pilot estimated that the wind was 38 knots and gusting to 42 knots at the time of takeoff. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
The pilot aligned the airplane into the wind and proceeded with the takeoff roll. As the airplane got airborne a gust of wind lifted the right wing and the left wing tip contacted the ground despite the pilot's application of full right aileron. The airplane was pulled to the left by the ground contact and came to rest on its nose facing the opposite direction of intended travel. During the accident sequence the airplane sustained substantial damage to the outboard sections of both wings and the left lift strut. The pilot estimated that the wind was 38 knots gusting to 42 knots. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N2619D
- Reported as
- Cessna 170B
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 20771
- Airframe hours
- 3,070
- Engine
- Lycoming O&VO-360 SER, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Inman Steve
- Registered owner
- Inman Steve
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · February 9, 2012
- Departed
- K8U5 · Sunburst, MT
- Destination
- KBIL · Billings, MT
- Airport
- K8U5 · Sunburst Airport, runway 23, grass/turf
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
- 54
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- August 28, 2011
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 568 total · 404 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 260° at 25 knots, gusting 34
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 34 °F, dew point 21 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.92 inHg
- Observed at
- KCTB, 25 nm away
Docket · 1
The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 3, 2013, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 723 KB in all.
Other investigations on N2619D · 3
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.