NTSB CAROL · Event
Event GAA15CA076
Registry · N3488C
FAA Aircraft Registry record.
Make / Model
CESSNA 170B
Year of manufacture
1954 · 61 years old at event
Engine
CONT MOTOR 0-300 SER (145 hp)
Seats / Engines
4 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
19551115
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S A3DE79
Registrant of record
BAKER DEAN C
Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).
Aircraft involved
Probable cause & findings
The flight instructor's failure to maintain directional control, which resulted in a ground loop on takeoff.
Factual narrative
During an instructional flight in crosswind conditions, the pilot receiving instruction initiated the takeoff roll and once the airplane became airborne, the nose immediately rotated into the wind. The flight instructor took the flight controls and attempted to maintain directional control with right rudder, but the airplane touched down on the runway and ground looped. During the ground loop the right wing impacted the runway causing substantial damage to the wing. The flight instructor reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The reported winds about the time of the accident were from 110 degrees true at 12 knots, and the runway heading was 180 degrees magnetic. During an instructional flight in crosswind conditions, the pilot receiving instruction initiated the takeoff roll and once the airplane became airborne, the nose immediately rotated into the wind. The flight instructor took the flight controls and attempted to maintain directional control with right rudder, but the airplane touched down on the runway and ground looped. During the ground loop the right wing impacted the runway causing substantial damage to the wing. The flight instructor reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The reported winds about the time of the accident were from 110 degrees true at 12 knots, and the runway heading was 180 degrees magnetic. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12
NTSB Findings
Hierarchical cause / factor breakdown from the FAA bulk avdata database. Each finding tagged C (Cause) or F (Factor).
- C Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Instructor/check pilot - C
- C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Directional control-Not attained/maintained - C
- — Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Crosswind correction-Not attained/maintained
Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file
NTSB_2015_GAA15CA076.txt.
Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb.
Full investigation docket on
data.ntsb.gov ↗.
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