Cessna 170B accident near La Belle, Florida, August 13, 2003
On August 13, 2003 at about 11:00 pm local time, a Cessna 170B, registered N2987D, was substantially damaged in an accident near La Belle, Florida (La Belle Municipal 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 failure of the pilot to maintain directional control during takeoff resulting in ground looping and substantial damage.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 13, 2003 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- La Belle, Florida · La Belle Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- 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
- N2987D · registry record · serial 26930
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student pilot stated that he aligned on the runway and he advanced power to begin the takeoff roll, and was well in control of the airplane. Once ground speed increased, he lifted the tail of the airplane. As the tail section lifted the aircraft veered to the left. He tried to correct for the left deviation but was unsuccessful and elected to abort the takeoff. The airplane then ground looped to the right incurring damage to the right wing and right elevator before coming to a complete stop. He also mentioned, he experienced no mechanical malfunction or failures with the aircraft systems.
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
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 22 hours in all; 17 in this make and model; 11 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,747 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 3,725 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Teledyne Continental O-300 SER (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: X14 La Belle FL at 7:00 pm
- Destination: X14 La Belle FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 14, 3,410 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; scat at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 30.09 inHg
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.