Placid Lakes Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Lake Placid, Florida 33852
Saturday, February 7, 2009 17:00 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The airplane "started to swerve to the right" after the student pilot corrected for a slight left drift while attempting a crosswind landing. Despite an attempt by both the pilot and flight instructor to arrest the right turn by applying "all controls and left brake," the airplane continued to veer to the right and skidded off the runway. During the skid the left wing contacted the runway and was substantially damaged. The instructor reported that the wind was a direct crosswind from the right at approximately 5 knots. The winds recorded at the nearest airport, 30 miles to the east, were from an easterly direction at approximately 6 to 9 knots. In addition, the pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions/failures.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing. Contributing was the flight instructor's delayed remedial action.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 2/7/2009
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1700
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City Lake Placid
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 33852
Event Date Year 2009
Event Date Month 2
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 271444N
Event Location Longitude 0812447W
Event Location Airport Placid Lakes Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 09FA
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 130
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1705 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 90
Weather Observation Facility ID OBE
Elevation of weather observation facility 34
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 30
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 6000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 6000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Thin Overcast
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 20
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 10
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 110
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 6
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.46
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 3
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 25093
NTSB Notification Source FAA Southern C-ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Feb 23 2009 8:42PM
User who most recently changed record muzd
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N1825C
NTSB Number ERA09CA159
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model 170B
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 25969
Certified Max Gross Weight 2200
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
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 Feb 7 2009 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 2713
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name Matthew E. Tomsheck
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Sevillle
Aircraft Owner State OH
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 44273
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name Matthew E. Tomsheck
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Seville
Operator State OH
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 44273
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
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) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code 09FA
Departure City Lake Placid
Departure State FL
Departure Country USA
Departure Time --
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code 09FA
Destination City Lake Placid
Destination State FL
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Feb 23 2009 8:42PM
User who most recently changed record muzd
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 36
Runway Length 4800
Runway Width 50
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --