Cessna 170 accident near Pottstown, Pennsylvania, September 22, 2020
On September 22, 2020 at about 4:18 pm local time, a 1952 Cessna 170, registered N2772D, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Pottstown, Pennsylvania (Heritage Field Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were 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 while landing in gusty, shifting wind conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 22, 2020 · about 4:18 pm local time
- Place
- Pottstown, Pennsylvania · Heritage Field Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 170 B, built 1952 · all 170s on the register
- Registration
- N2772D · no longer on the register · serial 25314
- 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 the most recent automated surface observing system (ASOS) weather favored a landing on runway 28, with an 8 knot right quartering headwind and 15 knot gusts. The pilot made a normal approach to runway 28; however, when he reduced engine power and began to flare the airplane ballooned about 8 to 10 ft and he added engine power. During the subsequent touchdown on the main landing gear the wind shifted to a quartering tailwind. The airplane veered to the right and the pilot applied left rudder and brake; however, the airplane ground-looped and exited the runway. The airplane came to rest opposite the landing direction and sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Review of additional ASOS data revealed a 66° difference in the gust wind direction over a 2-minute period around the time of 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 landing defining event
- Other weather encounter during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Runway excursion during landing
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Sudden wind shift › Effect on operation
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,752 hours in all; 205 in this make and model; 95 in the last 90 days; 32 in the last 30 days; 5,500 as pilot in command; 4,850 on instruments
- Last flight review: September 6, 2019
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Pilot-Rated Passenger
- Certificate: private, remote
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 321 hours in all; 199 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 167 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 17, 2018
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 28, 2020
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300-D (piston); 17,896 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28, 3,371 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.15 inHg
- Observation at 12:20 pm from KPTW
Weather report (METAR): KPTW 221554Z AUTO 31009G14KT 10SM CLR 19/03 A3017 RMK AO2 SLP213 T01890033
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
6 documents, released by the NTSB on July 16, 2021. 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, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Record of NTSB Conversations | PDF, 8 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Meteorology Specialist's Factual Report | PDF, 7 pages | View Download |
| 4 | FAA Inspector Statement | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Investigative Photographs | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.