LAX05CA233

Factual narrative

On July 14, 2005, about 0952 mountain standard time, a Cessna 170B, N2958D, impacted terrain near runway 21R at the Ernest A. Love Field Airport, Prescott, Arizona. The pilot was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The student pilot, the sole occupant, sustained minor injuries; the airplane sustained substantial damage. The instructional cross-country flight departed Cottonwood Airport, Cottonwood, Arizona, about 0920 en route to Prescott. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. In a written statement, the pilot reported that he had attempted to land on runway 21L at Prescott. He ballooned during the flare, and decided to go-around. He was instructed by the control tower to make right traffic for runway 21R. During his second approach, he noted that the airplane was above glide slope. He then decided to add another notch of flaps. The airplane remained on glide slope until the landing flare. The pilot stated that during the flare, he rounded out too late and overreacted by pulling back too hard on the control yoke. The left wing dropped, and the pilot pushed the yoke forward and to the right while increasing the throttle. After recovering, the pilot stated that he was no longer in line with the runway and that he was facing rising terrain. He pulled back again on the control yoke in order to avoid the terrain. The left wing dropped again and the airplane pitched downward and to the left. The airplane then impacted terrain. The pilot exited the airplane and noticed that fuel was leaking onto the ground. At that point, he secured the airplane. The pilot had 102 total flight hours and 88 total flight hours in this make and model of airplane. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane. The airplane stalled during the landing flare and impacted terrain. During the approach for runway 21R, the pilot noticed that the airplane was above glide slope, and added another notch of flaps. The airplane remained on glide slope until the landing flare. The pilot said he rounded out too late and overreacted by pulling back too hard on the control yoke. The left wing dropped, and the pilot pushed the yoke forward and to the right while increasing throttle. The airplane was no longer in line with the runway and was facing rising terrain. The pilot then pulled back on the yoke to avoid the ground. The left wing dropped again and the airplane pitched down and to the left, impacting terrain. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12