Cessna 170B accident near Bentonville, Arkansas, May 13, 2015
On May 13, 2015 at about 6:30 pm local time, a 1954 Cessna 170B, registered N3488C, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Bentonville, Arkansas (Bentonville Muni/Louise M Thad airport). It was an instructional 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 flight instructor's failure to maintain directional control, which resulted in a ground loop on takeoff.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 13, 2015 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Bentonville, Arkansas · Bentonville Muni/Louise M Thad · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 170B, built 1954 · all 170Bs on the register
- Registration
- N3488C · registry record · serial 26531
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During an instructional flight in crosswind conditions, the pilot receiving instruction initiated the takeoff roll and once the airplane became airborne, the nose immediately rotated into the wind. The flight instructor took the flight controls and attempted to maintain directional control with right rudder, but the airplane touched down on the runway and ground looped. During the ground loop the right wing impacted the runway causing substantial damage to the wing. The flight instructor reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The reported winds about the time of the accident were from 110 degrees true at 12 knots, and the runway heading was 180 degrees magnetic.
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
- Attempted remediation/recovery during takeoff
- Loss of control on ground during takeoff defining event
- Abnormal runway contact during takeoff
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Instructor/check pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Crosswind correction › Not attained/maintained
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,980 hours in all; 15 in this make and model; 90 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days; 1,710 as pilot in command; 610 on instruments
- Last flight review: March 6, 2015
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,034 hours in all; 3 in this make and model; 33 in the last 90 days; 14 in the last 30 days; 1,923 as pilot in command; 400 on instruments
- Last flight review: December 9, 2014
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (waiver time limited special)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,920.2 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 18, 2014
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor O-300 SER (piston); 3,290 hours total
- Operator: Summit Aviation LLC
The flight
- Departed from: VBT Bentonville AR at 6:30 pm
- Destination: 4M1 Berryville AR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 4,426 ft by 65 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 7,000 ft
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.20 inHg
- Observation at 6:55 pm from KVBT
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
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.