Cessna 170 N2485D

Summary

On 12 May 2018 at about 15:00 local time, a Cessna 170 registered N2485D, operated by Draggin Tail Pilots LLC., was involved in an accident near Zelienople, Pennsylvania, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

12 May 2018 at 15:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Zelienople, Pennsylvania, United States

Nearest airport

Zelienople Muni (PJC)

Coordinates

40.8019, -80.1608

Aircraft

Cessna 170

Registration

N2485D

Category

Airplane

Year built

1952

Engines

1

Operator

Draggin Tail Pilots LLC.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Zelienople → Zelienople

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

GAA18CA278

Nobody was injured.

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

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

According to the pilot in the tailwheel-equipped airplane, during the landing roll with the tailwheel on the ground, the airplane may have encountered a wind gust. The airplane exited the runway to the left, and the left main landing gear struck a taxiway sign. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left main landing gear attachment points, the lower fuselage longeron, and the elevator. The pilot reported that the wind at the airport about the time of the accident was variable at 4 knots and that skies were clear. The nearest METAR to the accident site, located 11 miles to the west, reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 270° at 8 knots with lightning in the distance to the northwest. The pilot landed the airplane on runway 35. The pilot reported that the accident could have been prevented if he had more quickly applied corrective actions, including increasing right rudder pedal pressure, using more differential braking, and increasing right aileron input. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.