Cessna 170B accident near Wildwood, New Jersey, September 28, 2001
On September 28, 2001 at about 4:08 pm local time, a Cessna 170B, registered N3465D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Wildwood, New Jersey (Cape May County Airport). It was an other work-use 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 inadequate compensation for wind conditions. Factors were the crosswind and the gusts.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 28, 2001 · about 4:08 pm local time
- Place
- Wildwood, New Jersey · Cape May County Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 170B · all 170Bs on the register
- Registration
- N3465D · registry record · serial 27008
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that on short final to runway 28, the airplane was struck by a gust of wind and the airplane dropped to the ground and ground looped. The airport AWOS recorded winds from 320 degrees at 8 knots with gusts to 15 knots before the accident, and a few minutes after the accident, the winds were from 310 degrees at 12 knots with gusts to 15 knots. The pilot estimated the winds were from 270 degrees at 10 knots with gusts to 15 knots. The pilot also stated that the accident could have been prevented, "...by coming in with more airspeed, possibly."
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,220 hours in all; 1,665 in this make and model; 300 in the last 90 days; 130 in the last 30 days; 2,054 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 24, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,998 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 8, 2001; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: WWD Wildwood NJ
- Destination: WWD Wildwood NJ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28, 4,998 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 8 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:55 pm from WWD
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.