Cessna 170B accident near Savoy, Illinois, December 14, 1996
On December 14, 1996 at about 5:33 pm local time, a Cessna 170B, registered N2506C, was substantially damaged in an accident near Savoy, Illinois (Willard 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 student pilot's failure to maintain directional control. Factors relating to this accident were the student pilot's failure to request another runway and the crosswind.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 14, 1996 · about 5:33 pm local time
- Place
- Savoy, Illinois · Willard Airport · 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
- N2506C · no longer on the register · serial 26150
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The tower controller cleared the student pilot to land on runway 4. The winds were 130 degrees at 15 knots. On final approach, the student pilot said that he had to use 'the wing low with opposite rudder method to a greater degree than I ever used before.' On touchdown 'the right wing rose to an unacceptable angle. I attempted to lower the wing and stay on the runway, but I lost control of the aircraft.' The airplane departed the left side of the runway, 'the tires sank causing the aircraft to pitch forward, stopping the engine. The aircraft stood vertical, stopping momentarily, then the wind seemed to blow the airplane over.'
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
Pilot
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 89 hours in all; 30 in this make and model; 41 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 51 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,993 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 23, 1996; 57 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MQJ Mount Comfort IN at 4:30 pm
- Destination: CMI Willard IL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 4, 6,500 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 5,500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:33 pm from CM1, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.