WPR14CA380

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 170B · Portland, OR · September 19, 2014

Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal report
Date
September 19, 2014, 16:16 local (23:16 UTC)
Place
Portland, OR
Injuries
2 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N3210ACessna 170B
Defining event
Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report December 5, 2014
Report
Approved by Office Director
NTSB office
Western Pacific Region
Parties
Federal Aviation Administration
FAA report
20140919017269A
Case key
90110

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.

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.

Use of equip/info: aircraft controlPersonnel issues › Task performance · PilotCessna 170B: 91 casesAll aircraft: 9,295 casesProbable cause
Performance/control parameters: directional controlAircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintainedCessna 170B: 74 casesAll aircraft: 3,958 casesProbable cause
Wind: tailwindEnvironmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operationCessna 170B: 12 casesAll aircraft: 594 cases

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 reported that while landing the tailwheel-equipped airplane in a quartering tailwind, the airplane started to veer left upon touchdown. He corrected with right rudder and brake which caused an overcorrection and he was unable to maintain directional control. During the accident sequence, the airplane ground looped and sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Factual narrative

The pilot reported that while landing the tailwheel-equipped airplane in a quartering tailwind, the airplane started to veer left upon touchdown. He corrected with right rudder and brake which caused an overcorrection and he was unable to maintain directional control. During the accident sequence, the airplane ground looped and sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Aircraft

Registration
N3210A
Reported as
Cessna 170B (UNDESIGNAT)
Category
Airplane
Serial number
25854
Built
1953
Airframe hours
2,381
Engine
Cont Motor C145 SERIES, 145 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · January 1, 2014
Departed
WA87 · Battle Ground, WA
Destination
HIO · Portland, OR
Airport
HIO · Portland-Hillsboro, runway 31, 6,600 × 150 ft, asphalt
Equipment
Stall warning system

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
57
Injuries
None
Certificates
Flight instructor, Commercial
Airplane ratings
Single-engine sea, Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 2, With waivers/limitations
Last flight review
November 13, 2013
Seat
Left
Restraint
Lap only
Flight hours
1,529 total · 51 in this make and model · 1,480 as pilot in command · 141 in the last 90 days · 46 in the last 30 days · 3 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
70° at 8 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
79 °F, dew point 57 °F
Altimeter
30.01 inHg
Observed at
HIO

Docket · 1

The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 21, 2014, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 3.6 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 N3210A · 2

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.