NTSB ERA24LA374 — 2024-06-16 · Smithfield, North Carolina, United States

Current FAA registration · N2257D

Make / Model: CESSNA 170B
Year of manufacture: 1952 · 72 years old at event
Engine: CONT MOTOR C145 SERIES (145 hp)
Seats / Engines: 4 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date: 19560109
ADS-B equipped: Yes — Mode-S A1F6E5

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

N2257D Cessna 170B None

Probable cause & findings

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll.

Factual narrative

The pilot was landing the tailwheel-equipped airplane and stated that it bounced before settling back onto the runway. The airplane then turned “sharply” to the right, so the pilot attempted to use rudder, brake, and aileron inputs in attempt to regain control. The airplane subsequently departed the right side of the runway before coming to rest facing the opposite direction of the landing. The airplane’s left wing was substantially damaged during the accident sequence. The pilot stated that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

— Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Directional control-Not attained/maintained
— Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2024_ERA24LA374.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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