Accident Details
On August 16, 2014, at approximately 0930 central daylight time, a Cessna 170B airplane, registration N60PE, sustained substantial damage during a landing at Augusta Municipal Airport (3AU) in Augusta, Kansas. The airline transport pilot and his passenger were not injured. The flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan, and day visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The local personal flight had departed around 0800.
Pilot's Account
The pilot reported that he had successfully completed six landings at various airports earlier in the flight before returning to the departure airport for a final landing. During the landing on runway 18 (4,201 feet by 60 feet, asphalt), the tail wheel-equipped airplane bounced upon touchdown. In an attempt to recover, the pilot maintained pitch attitude to allow the airplane to settle back to the runway. After the second touchdown, the airplane began a left swerve. The pilot stated he was unable to regain directional control, and the airplane departed the left side of the runway, coming to rest in a nose-down attitude in a grassy area alongside the runway. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have prevented normal operation. He further stated that the cause of the accident was his failure to maintain focus on the task of landing the airplane, instead focusing on another task such as where to exit the runway after landing.
Examination
A postaccident examination by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed substantial damage to the left wing, engine firewall, and fuselage landing gear support box structure. The right wing tip exhibited scrapes on its lower surface, consistent with contact with the runway surface. The examination found no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane or its flight control systems. Control cable continuity was confirmed from the cockpit to the tail wheel assembly.
Weather conditions at the nearest reporting station, Colonel James Jabara Airport (AAO) about 8 miles northwest, at 0954 reported wind from 240 degrees at 8 knots, visibility 10 miles, clear skies, temperature 28°C, dew point 20°C, and altimeter 29.87 inHg.