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

February 13, 2017 · Cessna 170 A · N1421D

Wheatland, WY

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
February 13, 2017
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (3 uninjured)
Location
Wheatland, WY
Aircraft
Cessna 170 A (1951)
Tail Number
N1421D
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
GAA17CA141

The flight instructor in the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, during the landing roll, as soon as the tailwheel touched the runway, the airplane veered to the right. He added that he attempted to recover by applying full left rudder, left brake, and right aileron, but the left wing impacted the ground as the airplane exited the runway to the right. Subsequently, the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing lift strut, both wings, and empennage. The flight instructor reported that skid marks on the runway indicated that the tailwheel was not rolling freely. He added that, during a postaccident inspection, the left brake pedal went to the lower limit on an initial depression, but later held brake pressure during a second depression. He reported that he would not have been able to recover the airplane back to centerline because of the initial brake pressure response. Further, the flight instructor reported that, about 10 minutes before the accident, the wind was 310° at 13 knots, gusting to 19 knots. In a followup e-mail, the flight instructor reported that there were no brake or tailwheel anomalies noted during the run-up or departure. He also reported that the student pilot did not make any noticeable control inputs during the landing sequence. The Federal Aviation Administration inspector reported that, during a postaccident examination of the airplane 2 days after the accident, he "saw nothing abnormal with the brakes," and he added that the tailwheel was turning. The airplane landed on runway 26. An online commercial weather service provider reported that a nearby station, about 2 minutes before the accident, reported wind 010° at 21 mph, gusting to 24 mph. The passenger in the rear seat provided a video showing the landing roll from the rear seat looking forward. Both the right and left control yokes can be seen, but the rudder pedals cannot be seen. During the beginning of the sequence, the instructor, in the right seat, had his right hand on the control yoke, and the student, in the left seat, had his left hand on the control yoke. Right aileron was applied. During the landing roll, the student added his right hand to the control yoke, and as the airplane veered to the right, left aileron was applied. The camera panned to the left as the right wing lifted and the left wing impacted the ground. The airplane veered left, then nosed over.

NTSB Probable Cause

The flight instructor’s incorrect compensation for the gusting crosswind during the landing roll, which resulted in a loss of directional control and runway excursion.

Full Narrative

The flight instructor in the tailwheel equipped airplane reported that during the landing roll, as soon as the tailwheel touched the runway, the airplane veered to the right. He added that he attempted to recover by applying full left rudder, left brake, and right aileron, but the left wing impacted the ground as the airplane exited the runway to the right. Subsequently, the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing lift strut, both wings, and empennage. The flight instructor reported that skid marks on the runway indicated that the tailwheel was not rolling freely. He added that during a postaccident inspection, the left brake pedal went to the lower limit on an initial depression, but later held brake pressure during a second depression. He reported that he would not have been able to recover the airplane back to centerline because of the initial brake pressure response. Further, the flight instructor reported that about 10 minutes prior to the accident, the wind was 310° true at 13 knots, gusting to 19 knots. In a follow-up email correspondence, the flight instructor reported that there were no brake or tailwheel anomalies noted during the run-up or departure. He also reported that the student pilot did not make any noticeable control inputs during the landing sequence. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector reported that during a postaccident inspection of the airplane two days after the accident, he "saw nothing abnormal with the brakes". He further reported that the tailwheel was turning. The airplane landed on runway 26. An online commercial weather service provider, reported that a nearby station, about 2 minutes before the accident, reported wind 010° at 21 miles per hour (mph), gusting to 24 mph. The passenger in the rear seat provided a video showing the landing roll from the rear seat looking forward. Both the right and left control yokes can be seen, the rudder pedals cannot be seen. During the beginning of the sequence the instructor, in the right seat, had his right hand on the control yoke, and the student, in the left seat, had his left hand on the control yoke. Right aileron was applied. During the landing roll, the student added his right hand to the control yoke, and as the airplane veered to the right, left aileron was applied. The camera panned to the left as the right wing lifted and the left wing impacted the ground. The airplane veered left, then nosed over.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time14:50 MST
Nearest AirportPhiefer Airfield (0nm)
Runway26
Runway Length5900 ft
Runway Width75 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 170 A
Tail NumberN1421D
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsCont Motor · C-145-2 · Reciprocating · 145
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (3 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured3
Total3
Crew 1Age 67 · Second Class · None
Crew 2Age 61 · None · None
Crew 3None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind350° @ 12 kt, gusting 27 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point54 / 9 C
Altimeter30.13 inHg
Observation Time21:53
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data