Cessna 170A accident near Syracuse, Kansas, August 1, 1983
On August 1, 1983 at about 1:30 pm local time, a Cessna 170A, registered N5781C, was substantially damaged in an accident near Syracuse, Kansas (Syracuse-Hamilton CO. 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 NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 1, 1983 · about 1:30 pm local time
- Place
- Syracuse, Kansas · Syracuse-Hamilton CO. · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 170A · all 170As on the register
- Registration
- N5781C · registry record · serial 19735
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE THE PLT WAS MAKING HIS SECOND LANDING, THE ACFT BEGAN TO ROCK BACK & FORTH DURING THE ROLL-OUT. HE ADDED POWER TO CORRECT THE OSCILLATION, BUT SAID THE POWER HAD THE OPPOSITE EFFECT. HE LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL & THE ACFT SWERVED OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RWY. THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR COLLAPSED & THE RIGHT WING & PROP WERE DAMAGED. THE PLT BELIEVED HE RELEASED CONTROL PRESSURE WHEN THE AIRSPEED WAS TOO HIGH, THEN OVER CONTROLLED WITH THE RUDDER.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 115 hours in all; 15 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 57 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,951 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 22, 1983
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-145-2 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 30, 3,000 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 12:57 pm from GCK, 49 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.