Premium research interface

The modern interface for aviation safety intelligence.

Search investigations, review source evidence, monitor watched reports, and trace long-term patterns from one calm, data-first workspace.

63k+
Reports indexed
1940-2026
Coverage
Recent
Last data refresh
Featured Report

Loading…

Loading featured report…

Loading…
Open Report

Safety trends by operating rule

Track fatal and non-fatal accident patterns across Part 91, Part 135, and Part 121 operations.

Loading trend charts…

Browse the aviation graph

Move quickly by aircraft, airport, operator, and time with indexes built for research, not wandering.

Last Data Update

By Decade

By Month

Aircraft Manufacturer

More manufacturers

Airports

More airports

Operators

More operators

About

Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

The goal is practical safety education: make it faster to find relevant investigations, compare similar events, review factual records, and understand the evidence behind probable-cause and preliminary reports.

The investigative work and source records belong to the National Transportation Safety Board and the published investigation record. This site is not affiliated with or endorsed by the NTSB.

FAQs

NTSB Report

March 28, 2000 · Cessna 170B · N4653C

Lopez Island, WA

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
March 28, 2000
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Lopez Island, WA
Aircraft
Cessna 170B
Tail Number
N4653C
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
SEA00LA058

The 61-hour pilot was executing a landing in his tailwheel-equipped Cessna 170B to a 2,900 foot long asphalt runway 16. Winds at a nearby airport were reported as 220 degrees magnetic at 12 knots, gusting to 22 knots. Just prior to touchdown, the aircraft drifted right of the centerline, touched down, bounced and the tail kicked right. On the third bounce the aircraft's right tire deflated. The aircraft continued to 'skip' down the runway veering further to the left and coming to rest 90 degrees to the centerline on the far left side of the runway. The pilot reported that he had recently acquired the aircraft and had approximately 13 hours of flight experience in tailwheel-equipped aircraft. He also commented that he had not flown in crosswind/gusty conditions of this magnitude during his flight experience, and that there was no mechanical malfunction with the aircraft.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during landing. Contributing factors were the crosswind condition, gusts, and the pilot's overall lack of total (flight and tail wheel) experience.

Full Narrative

On March 28, 2000, approximately 1130 Pacific standard time, a tailwheel-equipped Cessna 170B, N4653C, registered to and being flown by a private pilot, was substantially damaged during a loss of control on landing touchdown/rollout at the Lopez Island airport, Lopez Island, Washington. The pilot, who was the sole occupant, was uninjured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed. The flight, which was personal in nature, was to have been operated under 14CFR91, and originated from Bellingham, Washington, at 1100. The pilot reported that he initiated his approach to runway 16 (2,900 feet by 60 feet, asphalt) "with 20 degrees of flaps and a little extra speed" and that "just prior to touchdown, the airplane drifted about 5 feet to the right of the centerline. I touched down around midfield. The plane bounced and the tail kicked to the right. The plane then re-touched down, bounced, the tail kicked farther to the right. On the third touchdown, the right tire blew... ." The pilot continued, stating that "the airplane then skipped down the runway on the right rim with the tail moving further to the right with each skip. In total, the plane skipped about 6 times on the rim, coming to rest 90 degrees to the runway on the far left side of the runway... ." The pilot had noted that the right tire was a little low prior to his departure from Bellingham. Additionally, he report that there was no mechanical malfunction with the aircraft. The 1153 surface observation taken at Friday Harbor airport 5 nautical miles northwest of Lopez Island airport reported winds from 220 degrees magnetic at 12 knots gusting to 22 knots. The pilot reported that he had recently acquired the aircraft and had approximately 13 hours of flight experience in tailwheel-equipped aircraft, and 61 hours of total flight experience. He also commented that he had not flown in crosswind/gusty conditions of this magnitude during his flight experience.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time11:30 PST
Nearest AirportLopez Island (0nm)
Runway16
Runway Length2900 ft
Runway Width60 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 170B
Tail NumberN4653C
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · C-145-2 · Reciprocating · 145
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 32 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind220° @ 12 kt, gusting 22 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point50 / 0 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time19:53
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data