Accident Overview
On April 21, 2019, at about 1845 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 170B, registration N4567C, sustained substantial damage during a takeoff accident at Dry Creek Airpark (OG21), Prineville, Oregon. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The flight was operating under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight.
Pilot Report
The pilot stated that after a normal preflight, he initiated a takeoff roll on runway 25. As the airplane’s tail lifted off the ground, the aircraft began to pull toward the left. Despite adding right rudder input, the leftward pull continued. The pilot reduced the engine power to idle and attempted to stop the airplane, but it exited the runway surface and impacted a tree, substantially damaging the wings.
Pilot Experience and Aircraft Differences
The pilot reported having about 82 hours of flight experience in the Cessna 170 make and model, but only about 5 to 10 hours in the accident airplane, which he had recently purchased. He noted that the accident airplane was equipped with a more powerful 180-horsepower engine, compared to his previous airplane’s 145-horsepower engine.
Post-Accident Examination
A mechanic examined the airplane after the accident. The flight controls were secured, configured properly, and exhibited no abnormal wear. The wheels rotated freely, and the brakes showed normal operating wear. No anomalies were identified during the examination.
Weather Conditions
Weather information was obtained from a reporting station located about 6 miles north-northwest of the accident airport. Approximately 10 minutes before the accident, the wind was reported from 010° at 8 knots. About 10 minutes after the accident, the wind was from 360° at 8 knots, gusting to 13 knots.