# NTSB WPR22LA038: Cessna 170B, N3463C, Belen, NM, November 15, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: November 15, 2021, 13:30 local (20:30 UTC) - Place: Belen, NM · airport - Coordinates: 34.645862, -106.83634 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.6459&lon=-106.8363&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 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): 104266 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR22LA038 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/104266/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104266 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA038 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during takeoff. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 170B, 74 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2072306), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · 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) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); 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) - [Takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 170B, 52 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072306), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, he was taxiing onto the runway shortly after a turboprop airplane landed and taxied off the runway. During the takeoff roll, the airplane veered to the left and exited the runway surface. The right wing impacted the ground and sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3463C](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3463C-2023-09-16), registration cancelled 2023-09-16, S/N 26506, built 1954 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 170B - 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: 26506 - Year built: 1954 - Airframe hours: 3600 - Engines: Lycoming O360 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 1, 2021, 10 hours before - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: BRG, Belen Rgnl, runway 13, 5,280 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 73; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, waiver time limited special; last flight review October 30, 2021; seat: left; flight hours: 2,190 total, 26 in this make and model, 1,972 as pilot in command, 17 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 160° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 18 °F - Altimeter: 30.26 inHg - Observed at: KBRG - METAR: KBRG 152015Z AUTO 16003KT 10SM CLR 20/M08 A3026 RMK AO2 T02021077 ## 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 20211115019579A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20211115019579A), Nov 15, 2021: Cessna 170B, Belen, NM, Substantial damage. On November 15, 2021, at 1330 MST, a Cessna 170, N3463C, [privacy data omitted]performed a ground loop during its takeoff roll on a personal flight from Belen… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 1, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104266. 5.8 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 5.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13788233&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20038_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Accident photo (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 440 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13787602&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Photo%20038-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. --- 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.