# NTSB CEN14CA246: North American SNJ 6, N5485V, Santa Fe, NM, May 18, 2014 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 18, 2014, 12:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Santa Fe, NM - Coordinates: 35.616664, -106.089164 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.6167&lon=-106.0892&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: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 13, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - NTSB case key (mKey): 89237 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN14CA246 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/89237/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89237 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14CA246 ## Probable cause The pilot's loss of directional control during landing and subsequent go around attempt. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Windows-windshield system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035600): Aircraft › Aircraft structures · Design (probable cause); cases with it: [North American SNJ-6, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035600/cases.md?model=6400422), [All aircraft, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035600/cases.md) - [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 SNJ-6, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=6400422), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) - [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Ability to respond/compensate; cases with it: [North American SNJ-6, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=6400422), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [North American SNJ-6, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=6400422), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of visual reference](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/402); cases with it: [North American SNJ-6, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/402/sequence.md?model=6400422), [All aircraft, 242 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/402/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [North American SNJ-6, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=6400422), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [North American SNJ-6, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=6400422), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [North American SNJ-6, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=6400422), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot had planned an overhead traffic pattern, which provided for better visibility when he sat in the rear seat. While on downwind the pilot was directed to extend downwind and fly a straight-in approach. The pilot accepted the instructions, knowing his visibility for landing would be restricted and he would likely have to drop the nose of the airplane on approach to see forward during landing. The pilot landed "a bit fast" after dropping the nose, and a light crosswind possibly pushed the airplane right. The pilot over corrected to the left and added power to go around. The airplane skidded left and exited the runway, causing the right main gear to collapse and the right wing and prop to strike the ground. In his statement, the pilot did not indicate there was any malfunctions with the airplane prior to the accident. ## Factual narrative The pilot had planned an overhead traffic pattern, which provided for better visibility when he sat in the rear seat. While on downwind the pilot was directed to extend downwind and fly a straight-in approach. The pilot accepted the instructions, knowing his visibility for landing would be restricted and he would likely have to drop the nose of the airplane on approach to see forward during landing. The pilot landed "a bit fast" after dropping the nose, and a light crosswind possibly pushed the airplane right. The pilot over corrected to the left and added power to go around. The airplane skidded left and exited the runway, causing the right main gear to collapse and the right wing and prop to strike the ground. In his statement, the pilot did not indicate there was any malfunctions with the airplane prior to the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5485V](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5485V), registered now, S/N 112007 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: NORTH AMERICAN SNJ 6 (6) - Registry model: [North American SNJ-6](https://openairdocs.org/model/north-american-snj-6) (registry code 6400422) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R1340 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r1340-series) (registry code 52016, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 112007 - Engines: P&W R1340 SERIES 550 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Symington Management Services LLC - Registered owner: Symington Management Services LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: SAF, Santa Fe, NM - Destination: SAF, Santa Fe, NM - Flight plan: Unknown - Airport: SAF, Santa Fe Muni, runway 20, 8,366 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 59; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3; seat: rear; flight hours: 1,200 total, 600 in this make and model, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 160° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 66 °F - Altimeter: 30.09 inHg - Observed at: KSAF ## 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 20140518009839A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140518009839A), May 18, 2014: North American SNJ-6, Santa Fe, NM, Substantial damage. On may 18, 2014, at 1006 MDT, a North American SNJ-6, N5485V, sn 112007, registered to symington management services, ground looped left after landing on… ## Other investigations on N5485V (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 DEN03LA084](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN03LA084), May 22, 2003: North American SNJ-6 (N5485V), Albuquerque, NM, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the aircraft during the landing roll. Contributing factors include, the pressures induced on the pilot by the landing conditions and the asphalt… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 11, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89237. 19 KB in all. - Email - Pilot Statement (item 1, .PDF, 19 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40426209&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Email%20-%20Pilot%20Statement-Redacted.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.