Cessna 170 N9100A accident near Santa Fe, New Mexico

Probable cause

The flight instructor's delay in taking timely control of the airplane. Contributing to the accident was the crosswind.

NTSB analysis

The pilot, who held a private pilot certificate with a glider-aero tow-only rating, was receiving flight instruction in her recently purchased conventional-landing-gear airplane. The pilot also wanted to add a powered rating to her certificate. After performing various maneuvers in the practice area, the pilot and instructor returned to the airport and made a normal full flaps landing on runway 20. The pilot was flying and the instructor was handling the flaps and coaching the student. Upon touchdown, the tail wheel bounced slightly and the airplane began to drift to the left. The instructor attempted to correct the drift with opposite rudder. The airplane swerved to the right and tilted left. The left wingtip struck the ground and the airplane nosed down. The left wing spar and aileron were bent. At the time of the accident, the recorded wind was 240 degrees at 12 knots, gusting to 19 knots.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN09CA011 for the full record.