# Accident 19990320002319A: Boeing A75N1, Mesa, AZ, March 20, 1999

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 20, 1999, 12:20 local time
- Place: Mesa, AZ
- Airport: Falcon Field Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Roll-Out (Fixed Wing)
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 33.4394° N, 111.8500° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.4394&lon=-111.8500&mi=10
- Aircraft: N52558, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N52558) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Boeing A75N1(PT17) (registry code 1380134, https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-a75n1-pt17) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming R680E series (registry code 41545, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-r680e-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BOEING A75N1
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 11,746 total, 65 in this make and model, 180 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX99LA126](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX99LA126) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990320002319A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

ACFT GROUND LOOPED AFTER LANDING AND RAN OFF THE RWY, OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES ARE UNKNOWN.(.19) ON MARCH 20, 1999, AT 1220 HOURS MOUNTAIN STANDARD TIME, A BOEING A75N1 (PT17), N52558, GOUND LOOOPED WHILE LANDING ON RUNWAY 22L AT FALCON FIELD AIRPORT IN MESA, ARIZONA. THE AIRCRAFT, ORIGINATING FROM FALCON FIELD ABOUT 1200, WAS RETURNING FROM A LOCAL AREA PERSONAL FLIGHT CONDUCTED UNDER 14 CFR PART 91 OF THE FEDERAL AVIATION REGULATIONS. OPERATED BY THE PILOT, THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE AIRLINE TRANSPORT PILOT, AND SOLE OCCUPANT, WAS NOT INJURED. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. IN A TELEPHONE INTERVIEW WITH THE SAFETY BOARD, THE PILOT SAID THIS WAS THE THIRD FLIGHT OF THE DAY AND THE WINDS "WERE ACTING UP." THE WIND CHECKS ON FINAL FROM THE TOWER WERE 140 DEGREES AT 10 KNOTS WITH GUSTS, AND A SECOND ONE OF 160 DEGREES AT 15 KNOTS SHORTLY THEREAFTER. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE TOUCHED DOWN IN A WHEEL LANDING, ROLLED A SHORT DISTANCE, AND THE AIRCRAFT SUDDENLY TURNED 90 DEGREES TO THE LEFT. THE PILOT NOTICED THAT HE ENCOUNTERED A WIND PHENOMENA THAT WAS ABRUPT AND WITHOUT WARNING, AND IT WAS SO FAST THAT HE WAS UNABLE TO MAKE ANY  CORRECTIONS. THE RIGHT LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED AND THE RIGHT LOWER WING WAS BENT. (.4)THE PILOT SAID THIS WAS THE THIRD FLIGHT OF THE DAY AND THE WINDS 'WERE ACTING UP.'  THE WIND CHECKS ON FINAL FROM THE TOWER WERE 140 DEGREES AT 10 KNOTS WITH GUSTS, AND A SECOND ONE OF 160 DEGREES AT 15 KNOTS SHORTLY THEREAFTER.  THE PILOT STATED THAT HE TOUCHED DOWN IN A WHEEL LANDING, ROLLED A SHORT DISTANCE, AND THE AIRCRAFT SUDDENLY TURNED 90 DEGREES TO THE LEFT.  THE PILOT NOTED THAT HE ENCOUNTERED A WIND PHENOMENA THAT WAS ABRUPT AND WITHOUT WARNING, AND WAS UNABLE TO MAKE ANY CORRECTIONS.  THE RIGHT LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED AND THE RIGHT LOWER WING WAS BENT.                          (-23)THE PILOT STATED THAT HE TOUCHED DOWN IN A WHEEL LANDING AND ROLLED A SHORT DISTANCE WHEN A GUST OF WIND SUDDENLY TURNED THE AIRCRAFT 90 DEGREES.  THE RIGHT LANDING GEAR FAILED (COLLAPSED) AND THE RIGHT LOWER WING WAS DAMAGED.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB LAX99LA126](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX99LA126), Mar 20, 1999: Boeing Stearman A75N1 (N52558), Mesa, AZ, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate compensation for the gusty and variable crosswind condition, which led to a loss of directional control and an inadvertent ground loop.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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