Cessna 170 accident near Valley Center, Kansas, February 16, 2020
On February 16, 2020 at about 9:02 pm local time, a 1947 Cessna 170, registered N170RH, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Valley Center, Kansas (High Point airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's delayed decision to abort the takeoff when the airplane passed the point where he had anticipated the liftoff would occur.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 16, 2020 · about 9:02 pm local time · cases in 2020
- Place
- Valley Center, Kansas · High Point · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 170 Undesignat, built 1947 · all 170s on the register
- Registration
- N170RH · registry record · serial 18030
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that with about 500 ft of the 2,200-ft runway remaining, the airplane was traveling about 60 mph; the liftoff speed is 60 to 65 mph. He considered aborting the takeoff but determined that it was not safe due to the road that ran perpendicular to the end of the runway. As the pilot rotated the airplane, it abruptly pitched up, began sinking, and did not accelerate, so he elected to land straight ahead in an open field. After touchdown, the right landing gear broke and the spring leg dug into the ground. The airplane subsequently rotated about the leg, and the fuselage sustained substantial damage. The pilot had conducted a preflight inspection of the airplane and determined the weight and balance of the airplane was within the manufacturer's limits. He estimated that the takeoff ground run distance was about 1,400 ft, which was about 70% more than the owner's manual recommended. Thus, it is likely that, although sufficient runway was available for takeoff, the airplane did not accelerate sufficiently to sustain flight. Further, the pilot failed to recognize that the airplane wasn’t accelerating and did not abort the takeoff when the airplane passed the point where he had anticipated the liftoff would occur.
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 in flight during takeoff defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Delayed action › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Aircraft capability › Takeoff distance › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: unmanned (suas)
- Flight time: 6,200 hours in all; 8 in this make and model; 84 in the last 90 days; 21 in the last 30 days; 5,000 as pilot in command; 1,200 on instruments
- Last flight review: May 16, 2019
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,593.6 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 9, 2019
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C145 (piston); 3,593 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 3KS5 Valley Center KS at 9:02 pm
- Destination: 3KS5 Valley Center KS
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 2,400 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.90 inHg
- Observation at 8:54 pm from KAAO, 8 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
Photographs from the investigation 2 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photo 1 – FAA supplied photo of the left rear quarter of the airplane. The airplane exhibits fuselage damage forward of its empennage.
Photo 2 - FAA supplied close up photo of the right rear quarter of the airplane. The airplane exhibits fuselage damage forward of its empennage.The NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on April 1, 2020. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 8 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot's Statement - Weight & Balance | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Photos | PDF, 2 pages · our copy | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N170RH on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Cessna 170 2,085 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Cessna 72,678 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Continental C145 1,828 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- High Point Airport · nearest airport
- Accidents and incidents in Kansas 1,147 since 1982 · 149 in the last ten years
- Kansas 5,754 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/CEN20TA088.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.