Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The flight instructor's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll, which resulted in an inadvertent ground loop. A contributing factor was the flight instructor's diverted attention to talking with the student.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Current)
Analysis
On June 28, 2005, approximately 0800 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 170B, N2619D, sustained substantial damage when it encountered terrain following a loss of control during the landing roll on runway 04 at the Laurel Municipal Airport, Laurel, Montana. The flight instructor and the private pilot rated student were not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by the student. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local instructional flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The flight departed from Laurel Municipal Airport about 0715.
According to the flight instructor, the purpose of the flight was to work on landings. After the student completed two landings on runway 22, the instructor suggested they switch to runway 04 "as the wind sock was showing some movement from the east." The instructor then made two landings on runway 04. During the landing roll of the second landing, she was discussing the landing with the student and looked over at him. The airplane "veered to the right into the grass," and the addition of power did not stop the airplane from ground looping. The left wing and left elevator contacted the ground and sustained structural damage.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# SEA05CA135