Event FTW96LA354

Factual narrative

On August 18, 1996, at 1000 central daylight time, a Cessna 170B, N600JM, registered to and operated by a private owner under Title 14 CFR Part 91 lost control during the landing roll at Ball Airport, Victoria, Texas. The student pilot was not injured, the sole passenger received minor injuries, and the airplane sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight and a flight plan was not filed. The local flight originated 1 hour 30 minutes before the accident. During a telephone interview, conducted by the investigator-in-charge, and on the enclosed Pilot/Operator Report, the pilot reported the following information. The private dirt airstrip is 2,400 feet long and 50 feet wide. During the second landing, the airplane hit a gopher mound, veered sideways at about 30 mph collapsing the right main gear and dragging the right main wing tip on the ground. The windshield was cracked, engine mounts bent, and the right door frame deformed. The FAA inspector examined the tailwheel equipped airplane and reported structural damage to the right main gear, engine firewall, and right wing spar attachment area. FAA records indicated that the student pilot certificate was issued May 18, 1993. The pilot reported 51 hours of flight time in the make and model of aircraft. FAA Title 14 CFR Part 61 limits a student pilot from carrying a passenger. During the landing roll on a private dirt airstrip, the airplane hit a gopher mound and veered sideways at about 30 mph, collapsing the right main gear and dragging the right main wing tip on the ground. Also, during the occurrence, the windshield was cracked, engine mounts were bent, and the right door frame deformed. FAA records indicated that the student pilot certificate was issued May 18, 1993. FAA Title 14 CFR Part 61 limits a student pilot from carrying a passenger. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12