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

July 10, 2015 · Cessna 170 · C-FHER

Buffalo, NY

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
July 10, 2015
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Buffalo, NY
Aircraft
Cessna 170 (1952)
Tail Number
C-FHER
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
ERA15LA268

The airline transport pilot was conducting a personal cross-country flight in the tailwheel-equipped airplane. The pilot reported that he performed a wheel landing, during which a light quartering tailwind existed. As the tailwheel touched down on the runway, the airplane began drifting right. The pilot unsuccessfully attempted to correct the drift by applying left rudder and then left brake. Shortly thereafter, the pilot heard a loud "bang," and the airplane then ground looped left, which resulted in substantial damage to the airframe. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the left main landing gear wheel had separated from the landing gear leg. Further examination revealed that two of the four bolts that attached the left main landing gear wheel assembly to the landing gear axle had failed. Examination of the bolts' fracture surfaces revealed signatures consistent with an overload-induced failure due to bending. No evidence of any preexisting corrosion or fatigue of the bolts was observed.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during the landing with a light quartering tailwind, which resulted in the failure of the landing gear and a subsequent ground loop.

Full Narrative

On July 10, 2015, about 1350 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 170B, Canadian Registration C-FHER, was substantially damaged during a loss of control on landing at Buffalo Niagara International Airport (BUF), Buffalo, New York. The airline transport pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a visual flight rules flight plan was filed for the personal flight, which departed from Burlington Airpark (CZBA), Burlington, Ontario, Canada, and was operated under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. According to the pilot, automated terminal information service was reporting light winds favoring runway 23, but air traffic control offered him runway 14 for landing. On the short final leg of his approach to the runway, the pilot reported that he looked at the wind sock and noticed it was "hanging straight down." The airplane touched down about 200 feet from the runway threshold on the main landing gear, and as the tail wheel settled onto the runway, the airplane drifted to the right. The pilot attempted to correct with left rudder and then left brake. The pilot stated that as he continued to apply the left brake, he heard a loud "bang" and the airplane ground looped, but he could not determine what the origin of the sound was, or what precipitated the ground loop. Post-accident examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the left wing, left elevator, and fuselage. The outboard portion of the left wing spar was damaged, the left elevator was crumpled, and the fuselage landing gear box where the left spring gear was attached was damaged. The left wheel and hub assembly detached from the landing gear post during the accident sequence and came to rest about 10 feet from the airplane. In addition, there was a 3-foot long gouge in the pavement where the gear post scraped the runway, near where the airplane came to rest. The weather reported at BUF, at 1354, included variable winds at 6 knots. In the two hours leading up to the accident, winds were from a 250 degrees true at 4 knots and 260 degrees true at 4 knots, respectively. The hour after the accident, winds were reported from 250 degrees true at 7 knots. The pilot held a Canadian airline transport pilot license with ratings for aeroplane single and multi-engine land. His most recent flight review was completed on March 25, 2015. He reported 12,400 total hours of flight experience, of which 750 hours were in the accident airplane make and model. His most recent Transport Canada Civil Aviation first-class medical certificate was issued July 26, 2014. A review of the airplane's maintenance records showed the most recent 100-hour inspection was completed on December 19, 2014 at 4,190 airframe hours. At the time of the inspection no anomalies were discovered. On January 12, 2015, the Fly Lite 3000 Mark III hydraulic wheel skis were removed. The airplane was operated for an additional 27 hours and 71 landings with no anomalies reported by the pilot or documented in the maintenance records. The left landing gear wheel and hub attachment bolts were retained for detailed examination. Two of the four bolts were fractured during the accident sequence. Detailed examination of the fracture faces of the bolts showed angular necking features of the bolt cross sections adjacent to the fracture. The remaining two bolts had not fractured. None of the bolts displayed any evidence of corrosion or fatigue-induced failure.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time13:50 EDT
Nearest AirportBuffalo Niagara International (0nm NW)
Runway14
Runway Length7161 ft
Runway Width150 ft
Flight Plan FiledVFR
Flight Plan ActivatedYes
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 170
Tail NumberC-FHER
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContenental · O-300D · Reciprocating · 145
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 60 · First Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
Visibility9 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point57
Altimeter30.10 inHg
Observation Time17:54
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data