# Accident 20230712015389A: Douglas A-4K, Cherry Point, NC, July 12, 2023

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 12, 2023, 13:55 local time
- Place: Cherry Point, NC
- Airport: Cherry Point Mcas /Cunningham
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Rotation
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 34.9032° N, 76.8808° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.9032&lon=-76.8808&mi=10
- Aircraft: N143EM, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N143EM-2023-12-26) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Douglas A-4K (registry code 3021027, https://openairdocs.org/model/douglas-a-4k) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Pratt & Whitney J52 P08 (registry code 51758, https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-j52-p08) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: DOUGLAS A-4K
- Reported engine: P & W J52 P08
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA23LA298](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA298) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230712015389A

## Narrative

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

THE FLIGHT ON 07/12/2023 WAS BEING CONDUCTED UNDER PUBLIC USE FOR A ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. AFTER COMPLETING PRE-TAKEOFF PROCEDURES AND CONFIRMING PROPER TAKEOFF CONFIGURATION, THE AIRCRAFT WAS CLEARED TO TAKEOFF RUNWAY 05L AT ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ CHERRY POINT. UPON REACHING VR THE AIRCRAFT WOULD NOT ROTATE WITH SLIGHT BACK PRESSURE ON THE STICK. THE PILOT PULLED THE STICK FULL AFT WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY ADDING NOSE UP TRIM. THOSE ACTIONS DID NOT HELP TO BRING THE NOSE UP FOR ROTATION. WITH THE AIRCRAFT PAST V1 SPEED, STICK FULL AFT, AND NO NOSE AUTHORITY THE PILOT MADE THE DECISION TO EJECT FROM THE AIRCRAFT.

AIRCRAFT WAS LARGELY INTACT IN GRASS ABOUT 1,000 YARDS OFF THE DEPARTURE END OF RW 5L WITH SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. UPON EXAMINING THE WRECKAGE, THE THROTTLES WERE IN THE FULL FORWARD POSITION, FLAPS WERE POSITIONED AT ROUGHLY 8 DEGREES AND ELEVATOR TRIM POSITIONED AT 0 DEGREES. TAILHOOK WAS UP. DRAG CHUTE STOWED AND INTACT. THERE WAS NO REPORT OF RUNAWAY TRIM FROM MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL AFTER THE AIRCRAFT WAS INSPECTED FURTHER.

## 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 ERA23LA298](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA298), Jul 12, 2023: Douglas A-4K (N143EM), MCAS Cherry Point, NC, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to identify and appropriately respond to an anomalous nose-down trim condition during the takeoff roll, which resulted in his decision to eject and the airplane’s subsequent…

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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