# NTSB WPR21LA083: Cessna 170B, N4344B, Palouse, WA, January 8, 2021

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: January 8, 2021, 14:00 local (22:00 UTC)
- Place: Palouse, WA · Airport Environment
- Coordinates: 46.884969, -117.07687
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.8850&lon=-117.0769&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor, 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: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 102513
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR21LA083
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/102513/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102513
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21LA083

## Probable cause

The student pilot’s improper landing flare and loss of directional control and the flight instructor’s delayed remedial action resulted in a runway excursion and nose over.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 170B, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=2072306), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md)
- [Terrain: wet/muddy terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021035): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Cessna 170B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021035/cases.md?model=2072306), [All aircraft, 110 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021035/cases.md)
- [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 170B, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=2072306), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 170B, 91 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072306), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Attention/monitoring: monitoring other person](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535): Personnel issues › Psychological · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 170B, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535/cases.md?model=2072306), [All aircraft, 200 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535/cases.md)
- [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 170B, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=2072306), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/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: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 170B, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=2072306), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); cases with it: [Cessna 170B, 84 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2072306), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Cessna 170B, 29 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2072306), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The flight instructor of the tailwheel equipped airplane reported that, during an instructional flight, the student pilot’s landing flare was not sufficient to preclude a bounce. The student added power, and the airplane turned to the left toward hangars. The flight instructor took over the flight controls and continued the left turn to avoid hangars. The airplane departed the runway surface into a field. The wheels became stuck in the muddy ground and the airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted. The wings and vertical stabilizer were substantially damaged.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4344B](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4344B), registered now, S/N 26688, built 1955 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 170B (NO SERIES)
- Registry model: [Cessna 170B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-170b) (registry code 2072306) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental 0-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (registry code 17022, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 26688
- Year built: 1955
- Airframe hours: 3173.2
- Engines: CONT MOTOR 0-300 SER 145 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, September 3, 2020, 17 hours before
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: WN26, Schoepflin, runway 11, 1,600 × 25 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Stall warning system

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Flight instructor; age 61; injuries: minor; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 27, 2019; seat: right; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 2,174 total, 11 in this make and model, 2,046 as pilot in command, 26 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days
- Student pilot; age 39; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 69 total, 8 in this make and model, 11 as pilot in command, 8 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 37 °F, dew point 32 °F
- Altimeter: 30.18 inHg
- Observed at: KPUW, 9 nm away
- METAR: KPUW 082153Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM SCT120 03/00 A3018 RMK AO2 SLP240 T00330000

## 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 20210108001659A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210108001659A), Jan 8, 2021: Cessna 170B, Palouse, WA, Substantial damage. Student pilot with instructor on landing bounced at flair that produced a left turn off runway. Aircraft landed in muddy field and flipped upside down.

## Other investigations on N4344B (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 OAK75DVD09](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK75DVD09), Jul 15, 1974: Cessna 170B (N4344B), Willits, CA, substantial damage

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 20, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102513. 8.3 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 7.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11856686&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photos (provided by airport operations) (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 831 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11857151&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photos%20(Airport)-Rel.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.

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