# NTSB CEN10CA565: North American AT-6, N77TX, Blakesburg, IA, September 3, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 3, 2010, 09:00 local (14:00 UTC) - Place: Blakesburg, IA - Coordinates: 40.977779, -92.587501 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.9778&lon=-92.5875&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 12, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 77420 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN10CA565 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/77420/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77420 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10CA565 ## Probable cause The pilot's excessive airspeed during the landing, which resulted in his decision to perform an intentional ground loop to avoid a runway overrun. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [North American AT-6, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=6400402), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [North American AT-6, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=6400402), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [North American AT-6, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=6400402), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [North American AT-6, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=6400402), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [North American AT-6, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=6400402), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the tailwheel–equipped airplane performed a short-field landing on the grass runway. During the landing rollout, he applied the brakes and the aircraft slowed normally. Due to his position in the cockpit, the pilot could not see the end of the runway until the airplane approached it. He intentionally ground-looped the airplane in an attempt to avoid traveling off the end of the runway. The airplane turned 90 degrees and impacted trees. According to a Federal Aviation Administration inspector, witnesses reported the airplane's approach speed was excessive for the short runway. Examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the forward left wing spar. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot "made a short field landing approach 3 pointing the aircraft at the approach end" of the 2,350 foot long by 100 feet wide grass runway. The pilot applied the brakes and "slowing seemed normal." Due to his position in the cockpit and the 3-point landing, the pilot could not "see the end of the runway until it was too late." The pilot then intentionally ground looped the airplane to avoid traveling off the end and into a ravine. The airplane turned 90 degrees and impacted trees. According to a Federal Aviation Administration inspector, witnesses reported the airplane's approach speed was "way too fast for the short runway." Examination of the airplane revealed the forward left wing spar was fractured. The pilot reported there were no mechanical anomalies with the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N77TX](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N77TX), registered now, S/N 78-6698 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: NORTH AMERICAN AT-6 - Registry model: [North American AT-6](https://openairdocs.org/model/north-american-at-6) (registry code 6400402) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 78-6698 - Airframe hours: 11141 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney R-1340-AN-1 600 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 13, 2010 - Departed: FCM, Eden Prairie, MN - Destination: IA27, Blakesburg, IA - Airport: IA27, Antique Airfield, runway 18, 2,350 × 100 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 65; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review September 6, 2009; seat: front; flight hours: 3,153 total, 1,333 in this make and model, 3,059 as pilot in command, 68 in the last 90 days, 21 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 280° at 15 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none ## 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 20100903049059A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100903049059A), Sep 3, 2010: North Ameri AT-6, Blakesburg, IA, Substantial damage. Pilot landed on a wet grass runway. When he determined the braking action was impaired, and he could not stop. The pilot attempted to ground loop the aircraft… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 21, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77420. 324 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 310 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40337957&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Record of Conversation - FAA Inspector (item 2, .PDF, 13 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40342259&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20FAA%20Inspector-Master.PDF 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.