La Belle Municipal Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

La Belle, Florida 33935
Wednesday, August 13, 2003 19:00 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

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.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The failure of the pilot to maintain directional control during takeoff resulting in ground looping and substantial damage.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/13/2003
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1900
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City La Belle
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 33935
Event Date Year 2003
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? Yes
Event Location Latitude 264439N
Event Location Longitude 0812557W
Event Location Airport La Belle Municipal
Event Location Nearest Airport ID X14
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID --
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation --
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 2000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Unknown
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 29
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 23
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 230
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.09
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 14341
NTSB Notification Source Flight Standards, Fort Lauderd
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Nov 25 2003 11:36AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2987D
NTSB Number MIA03CA165
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 170B
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 26930
Certified Max Gross Weight 2200
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 3725
Airframe Hours 3747
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Kenneth Diaz
Aircraft Owner Street Address 861 County Road 78 West
Aircraft Owner City Labelle
Aircraft Owner State FL
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 33935
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name --
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City --
Operator State --
Operator Country --
Operator Zip code --
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code X14
Departure City La Belle
Departure State FL
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1900
Departure Time Zone --
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code X14
Destination City La Belle
Destination State FL
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Sep 11 2003 9:21AM
User who most recently changed record KENJ
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 14
Runway Length 3410
Runway Width 50
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --