# NTSB WPR23LA011: Cessna 170B, N1961C, Monument Valley, UT, October 8, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: October 8, 2022, 14:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: Monument Valley, UT · airport environment - Coordinates: 37.016667, -110.20068 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.0167&lon=-110.2007&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: 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): 106124 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR23LA011 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/106124/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106124 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA011 ## Probable cause The pilot’s loss of airplane control during the landing flare in gusting wind and subsequent loss of directional control during the landing roll. ## 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 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) - [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) - [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (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) - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Cessna 170B, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=2072306), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/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 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) ## Analysis The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, during the flare for landing, the airplane encountered a wind gust and the airplane landed hard and bounced. The airplane veered to the left and subsequently ground looped off the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the lower fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1961C](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1961C), registered now, S/N 26106, built 1953 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 170B - Registry model: [Cessna 170B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-170b) (registry code 2072306) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C145 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c145-series) (registry code 17012, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 26106 - Year built: 1953 - Airframe hours: 3388 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A1D 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 23, 2022 - Departed: CNY, Moab, UT - Destination: UT25, Monument Valley, UT - Airport: UT25, Monument Valley, runway 16, 3,800 × 45 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Satellite tracking device, Onboard weather, Handheld GPS, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Auto-pilot, ADS-B, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 68; injuries: none; commercial, private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 2,532 total, 110 in this make and model, 2,432 as pilot in command, 95 in the last 90 days, 41 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours - Pilot-rated passenger; seat: right; restraint: 4-point ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 150° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 30.40 inHg - Observed at: KBDG, 48 nm away - METAR: KBDG 082015Z AUTO 15005KT 10SM 20/07 A3040 RMK AO1 T01970066 ## 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 20221008016549A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20221008016549A), Oct 8, 2022: Cessna 170B, Monument Valley, UT, Substantial damage. The pilot stated that when touching down on the runway the aircraft bounced. Then it left the runway hitting soft sand dunes, causing the aircraft to ground… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 30, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106124. 3.2 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14663432&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Report%20On%20N1961C%2010-14-2022%20signed_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14663095&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Docket%20photo%20WPR23LA011-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.