# NTSB BFO88LA062: Travel Air D4D, N434N, Roanoke, VA, June 30, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 30, 1988, 13:15 local (17:15 UTC)
- Place: Roanoke, VA
- Coordinates: 37.709331, -78.289741 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.7093&lon=-78.2897&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 14, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 11423
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO88LA062
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/11423/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO88LA062

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll
  - landing gear,tailwheel assembly - vibration (contributing factor)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - landing gear,normal brake system - undetermined (cause)
- Main gear collapsed, landing - roll
  - landing gear,main gear strut - overload (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PLT REPORTED THAT DURING THE LANDING ROLL THE TAIL WHEEL BEGAN TO SHIMMY. HE STATED THAT SINCE THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH AIRSPEED TO LIFT THE TAIL OF THE ACFT, HE APPLIED BRAKES IN AN ATTEMPT TO SLOW THE ACFT. AT THIS TIME THE ACFT VEERED TO THE RIGHT. HE APPLIED LEFT BRAKE TO STRAIGHTEN THE ACFT BUT THE BRAKE WAS INEFFECTIVE. TO PREVENT THE ACFT FROM TRAVELING OFF THE RUNWAY AND ONTO THE TAXIWAY WHERE WORKMEN AND EQUIPMENT WERE PRESENT, THE PLT GROUNDLOOPED THE ACFT. THE PLT REPORTEDLY SERVICED THE BRAKES JUST PRIOR TO THIS FLT. THE ACFT WAS MOVED AFTER THE ACCIDENT BEFORE IT COULD BE INSPECTED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N434N](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N434N-2015-05-19), registration cancelled 2015-05-19, S/N 1340, built 1929 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: TRAVEL AIR D4D
- Registry model: [Travel Air D-4-D](https://openairdocs.org/model/travel-air-d-4-d) (registry code 2621012) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Wright 760A B D E&ET](https://openairdocs.org/engine/wright-760a-b-d-e-et) (registry code 67009, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 1340
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Ferry, Part 91
- Registered owner: Pepsico, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: MGY, DAYTON, OH
- Destination: ROA, ROANOKE, VA
- Airport: ROA, Roanoke Regional, runway 33, 5,800 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 64; airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine sea, multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, expired; seat: rear; flight hours: 27,000 total, 200 in this make and model, 22,000 as pilot in command, 110 in the last 90 days, 52 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 130° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 2,500 ft broken
- Temperature: 72 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: ROA

## Other investigations on N434N (2)

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 IAD80DKM16](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD80DKM16), Apr 13, 1980: Curtis-Wrt D4D (N434N), Candor, NC, substantial damage
- [NTSB MKC78FCD45](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC78FCD45), Aug 23, 1978: Travel Air D4D (N434N), Des Moines, IA, substantial damage

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.

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