Cessna 170B accident near Parker, Arizona, June 23, 2010
On June 23, 2010 at about 8:05 pm local time, a Cessna 170B, registered N432PB, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Parker, Arizona (Avi Suquilla Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. 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 with a crosswind.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 23, 2010 · about 8:05 pm local time
- Place
- Parker, Arizona · Avi Suquilla Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 170B · all 170Bs on the register
- Registration
- N432PB · no longer on the register · serial 26664
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
An airport employee stated that the pilot called for an airport advisory several minutes before he landed. He reported that at that time the wind was from 220 degrees at 7 knots. The pilot reported that as he approached the airport, the wind was from 255 degrees at about 7 knots, a direct crosswind for either runway; therefore, he elected to land on runway 1. The pilot said that while on approach, when he first saw the windsock, it appeared to be partially inflated, but as he approached touchdown the windsock was straight out. After the airplane touched down, the left wing rose up and the right wing and propeller contacted the runway. The airplane cartwheeled, departed the right side of the runway, and came to rest upright. Both wing tips were bent up during the accident. Subsequently, a fire erupted, which consumed the fuselage. Postaccident inspection of the airplane confirmed control continuity to all flight control surfaces. The pilot also reported that it was obvious that the crosswind was more than he or the airplane could handle and that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions.
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 (landing roll) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Contributed to outcome
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Tailwind › Contributed to outcome
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,000 hours in all; 125 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor C145 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: AJO Corona CA at 6:30 pm
- Destination: P20 Parker AZ
- Flight plan: not recorded
- Runway 01, 6,250 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 102°F (39°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.84 inHg
- Observation at 7:52 pm from BLH, 39 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.