Cessna 170B accident near London, Ohio, October 19, 2009
On October 19, 2009 at about 8:10 pm local time, a Cessna 170B, registered N2719D, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near London, Ohio (Madison County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the takeoff roll.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 19, 2009 · about 8:10 pm local time
- Place
- London, Ohio · Madison County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 170B · all 170Bs on the register
- Registration
- N2719D · registry record · serial 25261
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that during the takeoff roll “a strong wind gust from the left caused me to lose control and veer off the runway.” The airplane temporarily became airborne over the grassy area adjacent to the runway. The pilot reduced engine power to idle; however, the airplane encountered a “hole,” causing the left main landing gear to collapse. A postaccident inspection revealed that the left elevator had struck a Precision Approach Path Indicator (PAPI) light. The left wing was also damaged, resulting in substantial damage to the airplane. The pilot stated that there were no failures or malfunctions with the airplane prior to the accident. Recorded winds in the vicinity of the accident airport were from the south at 6 knots. However, southerly winds with gusts to 16 knots had been recorded prior to the accident.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Loss of control on ground during takeoff defining event
- Runway excursion during takeoff
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during takeoff (rejected takeoff)
- Landing gear collapse during takeoff (rejected takeoff)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,497 hours in all; 1,134 in this make and model; 18 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: October 12, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,857 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 16, 2009
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor C145 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: UYF London OH at 10:10 pm
- Destination: I19 Xenia OH
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 4,001 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 9:50 pm from TZR, 15 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.