No fatalities

29 Jul 2012: CESSNA 170A — PENSULA DAN — Ellensburg, WA

Ellensburg, WA, United States

On 29 Jul 2012, a CESSNA 170A operated by PENSULA DAN was involved in an aviation accident near Ellensburg, WA. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot’s loss of directional control during the landing roll. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 1778583330Data APIEditorial standards

A pilot performing a wheel landing on runway 07 lost control when the tail rose unexpectedly, causing the aircraft to veer left and stop abruptly, resulting in the right wing striking the ground.

Event Description

A pilot reported that during a wheel landing on runway 07, he pulled back on the elevator control to lower the tail. Instead of lowering, the tail rose, and he subsequently lost control of the aircraft. The airplane veered to the left, then turned sideways relative to the direction of travel. It came to a sudden stop, at which point the right wing contacted the ground.

Preaccident Examination

An examination of the aircraft revealed no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The aircraft's systems and components were found to be functioning as designed at the time of the incident.

Pilot Statement

The pilot's account of the event indicates that the loss of control occurred immediately after his attempt to lower the tail by pulling back on the elevator. The unexpected rise of the tail led to the aircraft veering left and turning sideways before stopping abruptly. The pilot did not report any other factors or conditions that may have influenced the outcome.

Contributing factors

Directional control — Not attained/maintainedPilot