# NTSB WPR24LA222: Cessna 170B, N4402B, Tacoma, WA, July 1, 2024

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: July 1, 2024, 15:30 local (22:30 UTC)
- Place: Tacoma, WA
- Coordinates: 47.267944, -122.57811 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.2679&lon=-122.5781&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: 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 FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 194598
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR24LA222
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/194598/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194598
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA222

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during landing.

## 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.

- [Landing-landing roll: 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)
- [Landing-landing roll: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Cessna 170B, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=2072306), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot checked the weather prior to landing the tailwheel-equipped airplane and noted variable winds. He planned for 3-point landing, and shortly before touchdown the stall warning sounded. The airplane touched down in a 3-point attitude and began to veer to the right. He applied corrective control inputs with the rudder, aileron, and brakes but the airplane departed the right side of the runway and ground looped. The airplane sustained substantial damage to left wing and elevator, as well as the lower forward fuselage structure. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4402B](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4402B), registered now, S/N 26746, built 1955 (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: 26746
- Year built: 1955
- Airframe hours: 2522
- Engines: Continental O-300 145 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, January 23, 2024, 16 hours before
- Departed: 05S, Vernonia, OR
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: TIW, Tacoma Narrows, runway 17/35, 5,002 × 100 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device, ADS-B, Handheld GPS

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 57; injuries: none; flight instructor, airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 15, 2024; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 13,216 total, 3 in this make and model, 7,827 as pilot in command, 176 in the last 90 days, 66 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: variable at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 6,500 ft broken
- Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 59 °F
- Altimeter: 30.15 inHg
- Observed at: KTIW, 2 nm away
- METAR: METAR KTIW 012253Z VRB04KT 10SM BKN065 24/15 A3015 RMK AO2 SLP206 T02440150=

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 12, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194598. 2.5 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17578343&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=r_6120_1-WPR24LA222-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 2, PDF, 4 pages, 3 photos, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17578123&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photos-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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