No fatalities

Tailwheel Airplane Noses Over After Landing Swerve

Roswell, NM, United States

On May 13, 2009, a CESSNA 170B operated by BRINDEIRO STEPHEN M was involved in an aviation accident near Roswell, NM. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control while landing. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 2026-08-03Data APIEditorial standards

A tailwheel-equipped airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted after swerving during landing roll with a right quartering tailwind. The pilot had been cleared to land by tower personnel.

Incident Overview

A pilot, cleared by tower personnel, elected to land a tailwheel-equipped airplane with a right quartering tailwind. During the landing roll, the airplane began to swerve to the right. The pilot applied full left rudder in an attempt to arrest the swerve, but the maneuver was unsuccessful. The airplane departed the edge of the runway, nosed over, and came to rest in an inverted position.

Damage

The vertical stabilizer and rudder sustained structural damage during the accident sequence. No other damage was reported.

Flight Control Examination

There were no reported anomalies with the airplane's flight controls, indicating that the control system functioned as designed.

Conditions

The landing was conducted with a right quartering tailwind, which may have influenced the airplane's directional control during the landing roll.

Contributing factors

PilotDirectional control — Not attained/maintained

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 13 May 2009 CESSNA 170B accident near Roswell, NM?

A tailwheel-equipped airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted after swerving during landing roll with a right quartering tailwind. The pilot had been cleared to land by tower personnel.

Were there any fatalities in the 13 May 2009 CESSNA 170B accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 13 May 2009 involved a CESSNA 170B, operated by BRINDEIRO STEPHEN M, at Roswell, NM.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control while landing.