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BFO93LA183

1993-09-22 · MARTINSBURG, West Virginia, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport MRB

Current FAA registration · N8081A

Make / Model
CESSNA 170B
Year of manufacture
1952 · 41 years old at event
Engine
CONT MOTOR 0-300 SER (145 hp)
Seats / Engines
4 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
19550818
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S AB0211

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL.

Factual narrative

On September 22, 1993, about 1430 hours eastern daylight time, N8081A, a Cessna 170B, was substantially damaged during landing at the Eastern West Virginia Regional Airport in Martinsburg, West Virginia. The pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed. The personal flight originated from Dulles International Airport, Washington, D.C., about 1350 hours, and was conducted under 14 CFR 91. The airplane was being operated by Armel Aviation, Ltd., Washington, D.C. The pilot stated that after touching down of runway 26 on all three landing gear, the right wing suddenly began to lift up. The pilot attempted to correct with right aileron and right rudder, but to no avail. The left wing contacted the ground, the airplane groundlooped to the left, and the right main landing gear collapsed. The right wing impacted the ground and the airplane came to rest off the left edge of the runway. No mechanical malfunctions were reported. The reported wind conditions at the airport about the time of the accident were 360 degrees at five knots. According to an FAA aviation safety inspector, the right main landing gear was separated and the right wing sustained substantial damage. An examination did not reveal evidence of any mechanical deficiencies. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT DURING THE LANDING ROLLOUT, THE RIGHT WING OF THE AIRPLANE BEGAN TO RISE. THE PILOT SAID HE ATTEMPTED TO CORRECT WITH RIGHT AILERON AND RUDDER, BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE LEFT WING STRUCK THE GROUND AND THE AIRPLANE GROUNDLOOPED TO THE LEFT. THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR COLLAPSED AND THE RIGHT WING WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS WERE REPORTED. THE WIND WAS REPORTED AS FIVE KNOTS FROM 360 DEGREES MAGNETIC. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_1993_BFO93LA183.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.