Cessna 170 N170RH

Summary

On 16 February 2020 at about 21:02 local time, a Cessna 170 registered N170RH was involved in an accident near Valley Center, Kansas, United States. 4 people were on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

16 February 2020 at 21:02

Classification

Accident

Location

Valley Center, Kansas, United States

Nearest airport

High Point (3KS5)

Coordinates

37.8428, -97.3514

Aircraft

Cessna 170

Registration

N170RH

Category

Airplane

Year built

1947

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Valley Center → Valley Center

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN20TA088

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot's delayed decision to abort the takeoff when the airplane passed the point where he had anticipated the liftoff would occur.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that with about 500 ft of the 2,200-ft runway remaining, the airplane was traveling about 60 mph; the liftoff speed is 60 to 65 mph. He considered aborting the takeoff but determined that it was not safe due to the road that ran perpendicular to the end of the runway. As the pilot rotated the airplane, it abruptly pitched up, began sinking, and did not accelerate, so he elected to land straight ahead in an open field. After touchdown, the right landing gear broke and the spring leg dug into the ground. The airplane subsequently rotated about the leg, and the fuselage sustained substantial damage. The pilot had conducted a preflight inspection of the airplane and determined the weight and balance of the airplane was within the manufacturer's limits. He estimated that the takeoff ground run distance was about 1,400 ft, which was about 70% more than the owner's manual recommended. Thus, it is likely that, although sufficient runway was available for takeoff, the airplane did not accelerate sufficiently to sustain flight. Further, the pilot failed to recognize that the airplane wasn’t accelerating and did not abort the takeoff when the airplane passed the point where he had anticipated the liftoff would occur.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.