Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
the pilot's inadequate compensation for the changing wind conditions, and his failure to maintain directional control, which resulted in an inadvertent ground swerve. The sudden windshift was a related factor.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Current)
Analysis
On July 12, 1996, approximately 1600 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 170B, N3156A, sustained substantial damage when it ground-looped during landing at Lewistown, Montana. The private pilot and his passenger were uninjured. A VFR flight plan was filed for the flight, which originated at Cut Bank, Montana about two hours earlier. The ELT did not actuate.
The pilot stated that he had approached with a moderate crosswind, and at about 3 feet above the runway the wind died or reversed. The airplane bounced; during the bounce the wind started to turn the airplane. The pilot was unable to control the directional change and the airplane ground-looped, damaging the left wing tip and left elevator tip.
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Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# SEA96LA153