Cessna 170 N2772D

Summary

On 22 September 2020 at about 16:18 local time, a Cessna 170 registered N2772D was involved in an accident near Pottstown, Pennsylvania, United States. 2 people were 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

22 September 2020 at 16:18

Classification

Accident

Location

Pottstown, Pennsylvania, United States

Nearest airport

Heritage Field Airport (PTW)

Coordinates

40.2399, -75.5560

Aircraft

Cessna 170

Registration

N2772D

Category

Airplane

Year built

1952

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA20LA338

Nobody was injured.

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control while landing in gusty, shifting wind conditions.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that the most recent automated surface observing system (ASOS) weather favored a landing on runway 28, with an 8 knot right quartering headwind and 15 knot gusts. The pilot made a normal approach to runway 28; however, when he reduced engine power and began to flare the airplane ballooned about 8 to 10 ft and he added engine power. During the subsequent touchdown on the main landing gear the wind shifted to a quartering tailwind. The airplane veered to the right and the pilot applied left rudder and brake; however, the airplane ground-looped and exited the runway. The airplane came to rest opposite the landing direction and sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Review of additional ASOS data revealed a 66° difference in the gust wind direction over a 2-minute period around the time of the accident.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.