On October 25, 1995, a Cessna 170B (registration N4555C) was involved in an aviation accident near Oconomowoc, WI. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed during the climb phase of a touch-and-go landing, which resulted in a stall and subsequent nosing over upon impact with terrain. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
The pilot reported inadequate power during the climb phase of a second touch-and-go landing, leading to an emergency landing in a cornfield and subsequent nosing over of the aircraft.
What happened
During the climb portion of a second touch-and-go landing, the pilot reported that the engine did not appear to produce adequate power, noting a specific reading of 1,000 rpm. In response to this perceived loss of thrust, the pilot executed an emergency landing procedure described as a straight-ahead engine-out maneuver. The aircraft subsequently contacted a corn crop during the landing phase. Upon impact, the airplane nosed over. A post-accident inspection and engine runup were conducted but failed to reveal any mechanical anomalies that would have caused a loss of power.
The investigation
Investigators examined the aircraft following the accident. An engine runup was performed to assess mechanical integrity. However, the inspection did not uncover any defects or irregularities that could explain the reported power loss during the flight.
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed during the climb phase of a touch-and-go landing, which resulted in a stall and subsequent nosing over upon impact with terrain.