Casualties unknown

Tailwheel Airplane Ground Loops on Landing, Right Main Gear Collapses (N1703N)

New Roads, LA, US

On July 31, 2005, a Cessna 120 (registration N1703N) was involved in an aviation accident near New Roads, LA. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain control during the landing roll. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 2026-07-04Data APIEditorial standards

A commercial pilot with 5,883 hours experienced an uncommanded turn during landing rollout. Despite corrective inputs, the airplane ground looped, collapsing the right main landing gear and causing runway edge contact.

Accident Sequence

After touching down at approximately 45-50 miles per hour on Runway 36, a 5,002-foot by 75-foot asphalt runway, the airplane initiated an uncommanded slow right turn. The pilot applied left rudder, which corrected the turn back toward the runway centerline. When a small amount of right rudder pedal failed to arrest the subsequent left turn, the pilot applied full right rudder pedal with no effect.

The left turn continued until the airplane became perpendicular to the runway centerline and began to "hop" on the right main landing gear. On the third hop, the right main landing gear collapsed, the windscreen broke out, and the right wing tip contacted the edge of the runway. After turning approximately 150 degrees, the airplane came to rest upright, halfway over the edge of the runway.

Examination

No anomalies were found with the flight controls, rudder system, or tail-wheel of the airplane. The nearest weather reporting facility, located 20 nautical miles southeast of the accident site, reported no wind seven minutes before the accident.

The pilot held a commercial certificate and had accumulated 5,883 hours of flight time.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 31 Jul 2005 Cessna 120 accident near New Roads, LA?

A commercial pilot with 5,883 hours experienced an uncommanded turn during landing rollout. Despite corrective inputs, the airplane ground looped, collapsing the right main landing gear and causing runway edge contact.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 31 Jul 2005 involved a Cessna 120, registration N1703N, at New Roads, LA.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

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

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20050909X01425. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.