Cessna 170 accident near Campbellsville, Kentucky, June 13, 2010
On June 13, 2010 at about 1:00 am local time, a Cessna 170, registered N4273V, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Campbellsville, Kentucky (Taylor County Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during an aborted landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 13, 2010 · about 1:00 am local time
- Place
- Campbellsville, Kentucky · Taylor County Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 170 · all 170s on the register
- Registration
- N4273V · no longer on the register · serial 18631
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The passenger of the tailwheel-equipped airplane, a student pilot, stated that it was "coming in a little hot" for landing. It touched down "on the mains," bounced, touched down again on the left main, then "bounced to the right." After the bounce to the right, the pilot added power, and the airplane "gradually" veered into the weeds next to the runway, encountering vegetation and a ditch. Photographs provided by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector on scene revealed that the airplane came to rest inverted. The passenger sustained serious injuries. The pilot, at the time of this report, was in critical condition and unable to communicate with investigators.
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
- Abnormal runway contact during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Loss of control on ground during landing defining event
- Runway excursion
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain)
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: 3,500 hours in all; 10 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,780 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 2010; 3 hours since
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor C145 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AAS Campbellsville KY
- Destination: AAS Campbellsville KY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 05, 5,003 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.05 inHg
- Observation at 11:57 pm from DVK, 29 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.