On January 26, 1991, a Cessna 170B (registration N4414B) operated by Glenn E. Dee Jr. was involved in an aviation accident near Rochester, IN. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS. A FACTOR CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE CROSSWIND. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A tailwheel-equipped aircraft landed on runway 29 with wind from 260° at 12 knots. After touchdown, directional control was lost and the aircraft exited the runway to the right. The pilot attempted to abort, but the aircraft flew across a ditch, touched down on a railroad right-of-way, and impacted a tree stump.
Flight Details
The aircraft involved was a tailwheel-equipped airplane. It conducted a landing on runway 29. According to a weather reporting facility located 25 nautical miles to the south, the wind at the time was from 260 degrees at 12 knots.
Accident Sequence
Following touchdown, the aircraft experienced a loss of directional control. It proceeded to exit the runway to the right. The pilot reported that he then attempted to abort the landing. During the abort, the aircraft flew over a ditch. It subsequently touched down on a railroad right-of-way. The aircraft then impacted a tree stump that was located at a fence line.
Pilot Account
The pilot stated that after the loss of directional control on the runway, he attempted to abort the landing. The subsequent events included the aircraft crossing a ditch, touching down on a railroad right-of-way, and hitting a tree stump at a fence line.