# NTSB WPR20CA173: Cessna 170, N8282A, Butte, MT, June 2, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 2, 2020, 16:30 local (22:30 UTC) - Place: Butte, MT - Coordinates: 45.954723, -112.497497 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.9547&lon=-112.4975&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 101407 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR20CA173 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101407/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101407 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR20CA173 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain airplane control during landing in turbulent conditions. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 170, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072302), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Turbulence: terrain induced turbulence](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032010): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 170, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032010/cases.md?model=2072302), [All aircraft, 70 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 170, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=2072302), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [Cessna 170, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=2072302), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the tailwheel equipped airplane reported that during landing with about a 7 knot headwind, just as the airplane touched down, a "wind event" (turbulence) lifted the airplane airborne. The pilot added power, but the airplane subsequently touched down hard in a 3-point attitude. The lower fuselage was substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8282A](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8282A), registered now, S/N 25134, built 1952 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 170 (B) - Registry model: [Cessna 170](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-170) (registry code 2072302) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C145 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c145-series) (registry code 17012, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 25134 - Year built: 1952 - Airframe hours: 3800 - Engines: Continental C145 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 1, 2020 - Departed: SHR, Sheridan, WY - Destination: BTM, Butte, MT - Airport: BTM, Bert Mooney, runway 33, 9,000 × 150 ft, asphalt - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 61; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 23, 2019; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 2,422 total, 19 in this make and model, 2,350 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 330° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 21 °F - Altimeter: 30.12 inHg - Observed at: KBTM, 1 nm away ## 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 20200602007779A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200602007779A), Jun 2, 2020: Cessna 170B, Butte, MT, Substantial damage. PIC was landing runway 33 at the Bert Mooney Airport in Butte, MT. When at touch down he encountered gusty winds, mismanaged engine power and flight controls,… ## Other investigations on N8282A (1) 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 SEA76DYI01](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA76DYI01), Jul 5, 1975: Cessna 170 (N8282A), Redmond, OR, destroyed ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 2, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101407. 3.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40486559&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Accident Photo (item 2, .PDF, 64 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40486560&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photo-Master.PDF 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.