No fatalities

6 Feb 2013: CESSNA 170B — INMAN STEVE — Sunburst, MT

Sunburst, MT, United States

On 6 Feb 2013, a CESSNA 170B operated by INMAN STEVE was involved in an aviation accident near Sunburst, MT. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to compensate for the strong, gusting wind conditions, which resulted in a loss of airplane control during takeoff. 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

During takeoff in gusty conditions, a wind gust lifted the right wing, causing the left wing tip to contact the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and the left lift strut.

Accident Sequence

The pilot aligned the airplane into the wind and initiated the takeoff roll. As the airplane became airborne, a gust of wind lifted the right wing. Despite the pilot's application of full right aileron, the left wing tip contacted the ground. The ground contact pulled the airplane to the left, and it came to rest on its nose, facing the opposite direction of intended travel.

Damage

During the accident sequence, the airplane sustained substantial damage to the outboard sections of both wings and the left lift strut.

Wind Conditions

The pilot estimated that the wind was 38 knots, gusting to 42 knots.

Mechanical Status

The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Contributing factors

Causes

Pilot

Other contributing factors

Performance/control parametersEffect on operation