Cessna 170 accident near Prineville, Oregon, April 22, 2019
On April 22, 2019 at about 1:45 am local time, a 1953 Cessna 170, registered N4567C, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Prineville, Oregon (Dry Creek Airpark airport). It was a personal 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 failure to maintain directional control during takeoff with a crosswind.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 22, 2019 · about 1:45 am local time
- Place
- Prineville, Oregon · Dry Creek Airpark · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 170 B, built 1953 · all 170s on the register
- Registration
- N4567C · no longer on the register · serial 25511
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that after a normal preflight, he proceeded to the runway and started the takeoff roll. Once the airplane’s tail lifted off the ground, the airplane pulled toward the left and continued to do so despite the pilot adding right rudder. He reduced the power to idle and attempted to stop the airplane; however, it exited the runway surface and impacted a tree substantially damaging the wings. The pilot had about 82 hours in make and model but only about 5 to 10 hours in the accident airplane, which had a more powerful engine than his previous airplane. Postaccident examination revealed there were no anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Wind reports shortly before and after the accident indicate a crosswind in relation to the takeoff runway. In addition, the accident airplane’s more powerful engine may have responded differently on takeoff than what the pilot was accustomed to. Despite these potential factors, the pilot ultimately did not maintain directional control during takeoff.
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 takeoff defining event
- Runway excursion during takeoff
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during takeoff
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- factor Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge › Experience/qualifications › Recent experience w/ equipment › Pilot
- factor Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Effect on operation
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 225 hours in all; 82 in this make and model; 21 in the last 90 days; 17 in the last 30 days; 160 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 5, 2018
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,294 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 19, 2018; 60 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O&VO-360 SER (piston); 1,174 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: OG21 Prineville OR at 5:15 pm
- Destination: 6K5 Sisters OR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25, 3,000 ft by 35 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 8 knots, gusting 13
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.19 inHg
- Observation at 1:55 am from S39, 7 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
5 documents, released by the NTSB on November 23, 2021. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Record of Conversation - Pilot | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Record of Conversation - Mechanic | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Record of Email - NTSB Meteorologist | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.