Probable cause
The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll with an unexpected windshift, which resulted in a runway excursion.
NTSB analysis
The pilot reported that during his landing roll the airplane encountered an unexpected wind shift with quartering tailwind gusts as he decelerated to about 45 miles per hour. The pilot had not yet retracted his flaps and lost directional control of the airplane. The airplane departed the left side of the runway, traversed through the grass, and came to rest in a swale, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage and engine mount.
The pilot did not report any mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN23LA177 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- May 4, 2023
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Longville, Minnesota
- Nearest airport
- Longville Muni (XVG)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Bellanca 17-30A
- N-number
- N8210R
- Category
- Airplane
- Year built
- 1972
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.