# NTSB ATL01LA078: McDonnell Douglas DC-3, N3239T, Titusville, FL, July 9, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 9, 2001, 13:25 local (17:25 UTC) - Place: Titusville, FL - Coordinates: 28.5, -80.783332 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.5000&lon=-80.7833&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 20, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 52668 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL01LA078 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/52668/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL01LA078 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during a bounced landing, resulting in a ground loop and subesequent collision with the runway. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - terrain condition - runway - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis During an attempted landing at the Titusville Space Coast Regional Airport in Titusville, Florida, the airplane bounced three feet into the air. A decision was made by the PIC to go-around. Upon application of power, the airplane turned sharply left. On the second bounce, the airplane veered left, the left wing came up, and the airplane veered right. On the third bounce, the airplane was pointing about 80 degrees nose right of the runway heading. The airplane sustained substantial damage during the ground loop. ## Factual narrative On July 9, 2001, at 1325 eastern daylight time, a Mcdonnell Douglas DC-3, N3239T, ground looped curing an attempted landing on runway 27 at the Titusville Space Coast Regional Airport in Titusville, Florida. The airplane was owned and operated by Valiant Air Command and flown by an airline transport pilot under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 with an instrument flight rules flight plan on file. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot-in-command and co-pilot were not injured, and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The flight originated from Pope Air Force Base, North Carolina, at 0915 with a fuel stop in Southern Pines, North Carolina. The flight departed Southern Pines at 1015. According to the pilot-in-command, the flight was returning from an air show and was on a visual approach to runway 27. The co-pilot was flying the airplane, and winds reported by the tower were 250 degrees at 16 knots. The approach was stabilized, and upon touchdown, the airplane bounced. The pilot-in-command stated, "A decision was made by me to go around." The pilot-in-command stated, "Upon application of power the airplane turned sharply left, probably from a strong and sudden wind gust." According to the tower controller, the airplane bounced about three feet into the air. On the second bounce, the airplane veered left, and it appeared to the controller that the pilot was trying to go-around. The controller said the left wing came up and the airplane veered right. On the third bounce, the airplane was pointing about 80 degrees nose-right of the runway heading. Examination of the airplane found the following damage; right main gear had separated from the airplane, the left main gear collapsed, the tailwheel had separated, the right wing tip had impacted the runway with significant scarring on the underside of the wing, and wrinkling was observed in the empennage. The pilot reported that the damage had occured during the ground loop. No previous mechanical problems with the airplane were reported. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3239T](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3239T), registered now, S/N 19054, built 1987 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: McDonnell Douglas DC-3 - Registry model: [Douglas DC3C-S1C3G](https://openairdocs.org/model/douglas-dc3c-s1c3g) (registry code 3021458) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 19054 - Airframe hours: 14153 - Engines: P&W R1830-92 1200 horsepower reciprocating; P&W R1830-92 1200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Other work use, Part 91 - Registered owner: Valiant Air Command - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, June 12, 2001, 7.7 hours before - Departed: SOP, Southern Pines, NC - Destination: TIX, Titusville, FL - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: TIX, Spacecoast Regional Airport, runway 27, 5,000 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 39; injuries: none; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review March 20, 2001; seat: left; flight hours: 12,000 total, 400 in this make and model, 10,000 as pilot in command, 226 in the last 90 days, 81 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours - Co-pilot; age 70; injuries: none; airline transport, flight engineer; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land, multi-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review September 7, 2000; seat: right; flight hours: 2,500 total, 35 in this make and model, 12,000 as pilot in command, 12 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 10 knots, gusting 25 - Visibility: 4 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 6,000 ft broken - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 29.96 inHg - Observed at: TIS ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20010709016939A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010709016939A), Jul 9, 2001: Doug DC3, Titusville, FL, No damage. (.19) On July 9, 2001, at 1325 eastern daylight time, a Mcdonnell Douglas DC-3, N3239T, collided with runway 27, during landing at the Titusville; Space coast… 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.