No fatalities

20 Jul 2020: Cessna 170B — Pilot — Bloomington, IN

Bloomington, IN, United States

On 20 Jul 2020, a Cessna 170B operated by Pilot was involved in an aviation accident near Bloomington, IN. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to attain/maintain directional control during landing that resulted in a ground loop and impact with terrain. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 17 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 1778583330Data APIEditorial standards

A commercial pilot reported a normal approach but a quartering tailwind caused the airplane to ground loop during landing, striking the left wing. Damage was minor per pilot but photos showed structural damage.

Accident Overview

A commercial pilot experienced a ground loop during landing after encountering a quartering tailwind. The approach was reported as normal, but during touchdown on all three landing gear wheels, the tailwind lifted the airplane's tail and right wing, causing the aircraft to veer.

Sequence of Events

The pilot stated that the approach to the runway was uneventful. Upon landing, a quartering tailwind condition raised the airplane tail and right wing. The airplane subsequently ground looped, and the left wing struck the ground. The pilot noted no mechanical malfunction or failure of the airplane.

Damage Assessment

The pilot described the damage as minor; however, a photograph revealed that the left wing sustained structural damage inboard of the wing tip. Additionally, the left wing aileron and elevator were damaged.

Contributing factors

Directional control — Not attained/maintained