LAWRENCEVILLE, GA, USA
N4105V
Cessna 170
The pilot stated he landed on runway 25 with a right quartering tailwind. As the gear touched down, the left wing started rising. He applied aileron to bring the wing down. Moments later the wing raised up again. He was not able to respond fast enough and lost directional control. He applied toe brakes instead of attempting a go-around. The airplane ground looped, the left main landing gear collapsed, and the airplane collided with the ground. The winds at the airport were reported as 110 degrees at 7 knots.
On December 18, 1998, about 1344 eastern standard time, a Cessna 170, N4105V, registered to a private owner experienced a reported loss of directional control on landing rollout at Gwinnett County-Briscoe Field, Lawrenceville, Georgia. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The private pilot reported no injuries. The flight originated from Jackson County Airport, Jefferson, Georgia, about 34 minutes before the accident. The pilot stated he landed on runway 25 with a right quartering tailwind. He further stated, "As my wheels touched, rear and main simultaneously, I noted the left wing rising ever so slightly so I countered with left aileron to bring the wing back down. Moments later the wing raised up again only this time violently. I was not able to respond fast enough and the airplane started to loose directional control. In so much as the aircraft, at that point, was no longer aligned with the runway, I applied toe brakes rather than executing a "go-around" as I had trained. Since only one wheel was in direct contact with the runway, the rudder could not counter the action of the wheel brakes. The aircraft was now at 90 degrees to runway 25 with an approximate heading of 160 degrees. With this heading I had no choice but to continue braking. The aircraft completed a 180 degree turn and came to rest off the runway with damage to the tailwheel, the fuselage, underside of cabin and doors, left wing, left horizontal stabilizer, left wing strut, and left main landing gear." Examination of the runway by the FAA revealed the airplane began to slide to the right on touchdown. The inspector stated, "It seems as though he locked the brakes instead of using proper crosswind landing techniques. The left skid mark was segmented indicating that the left wing/wheel was raised and lowered to the ground multiple times. When the aircraft touched the soft (damp) grass/dirt the tail was swinging to the left and was still bouncing. The aircraft rotated approximately 150-160 degrees when the left wheel touched down again, in a left wing low attitude, the left main gear collapsed under the fuselage and forward leaving the left main wheel resting under the engine cowling/nose." The Lawrenceville 1350 sequence weather report recorded the winds as 110 degrees at 7 knots.
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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