Pilot Debrief

CESSNA 170B near Augusta, KS — 2014-08-16

Final reportCEN14LA436
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Date
2014-08-16
Location
Augusta, KS, USA
Airport
3AU
Aircraft
CESSNA 170B
Registration
N60PE
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Landing

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during the landing roll.

NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that, during the accident flight, he had successfully completed six landings at several airports before deciding to return to the departure airport for a final landing. He stated that the tailwheel-equipped airplane bounced upon touchdown on the runway. In an attempt to recover from the bounced landing, he maintained pitch attitude to allow the airplane to settle back to the runway. After the second touchdown, the airplane began to swerve left. The pilot was unable to regain directional control of the airplane, and it subsequently departed the left side of the runway and then came to rest in a nose-down attitude in a grassy area. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have prevented its normal operation. Additionally, the pilot stated that the cause of the accident was his failure to maintain focused on the task of landing the airplane.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Human factors
First missed decision gate
Pilot failed to maintain focus on landing task instead of planning runway exit.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • 4 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents4

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