# NTSB CEN17LA323: North American SNJ-4, N243CC, Ashland, OH, August 12, 2017 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 12, 2017, 11:17 local (15:17 UTC) - Place: Ashland, OH - Coordinates: 40.859706, -82.309471 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.8597&lon=-82.3095&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor - Status: Completed, report March 18, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration; Cleveland FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 95850 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN17LA323 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/95850/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95850 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN17LA323 ## Probable cause The pilot’s improper recovery from a bounced landing, which resulted in a loss of directional control. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [North American SNJ-4, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=6400414), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [North American SNJ-4, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=6400414), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/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: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) (defining event); cases with it: [North American SNJ-4, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=6400414), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); cases with it: [North American SNJ-4, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=6400414), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [North American SNJ-4, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=6400414), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [North American SNJ-4, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=6400414), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [North American SNJ-4, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=6400414), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The private pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane stated that, during a "wheel landing," the airplane bounced twice upon touchdown then veered off the runway into a grass area. The pilot was unable to return the airplane to the runway surface because the airplane was "slipping on the grass" while the pilot applied left rudder and left wheel brake. The airplane nosed over when it came to a stop in the grass area and came to rest inverted. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane. According to the Airplane Flying Handbook, corrective action from a bounced landing is dependent upon its severity, and such action can range from an application of power to cushion a subsequent landing to performance of a go-around. ## Factual narrative On August 12, 2017, at 1117 eastern daylight time, a North American SNJ-4, N243CC, experienced a bounced landing and veered off runway 19 at Ashland County Airport (3G4), Ashland, Ohio. The airplane nosed-over, impacted terrain, and received substantial damage. The private pilot sustained serious injuries, and a passenger sustained minor injuries. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight that was not operating on a flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The flight originated from Akron Fulton International Airport (AKR), Akron, Ohio, about 1100 and was destined to 3G4. The pilot stated that during a "wheel landing" on runway 19, the airplane bounced on touch down and during the second bounce veered off the runway into a grass area. The pilot was unable to return airplane to the runway surface because the airplane was "slipping on the grass" while he applied left rudder and left wheel brake. The airplane nosed-over when it came to a stop in the grass area and impacted the ground. The pilot stated there was structural damage to the airframe, left wing, and empennage. He stated there was no mechanical malfunction/failure with the airplane. The Airplane Flying Handbook (FAA-H-8083-3B) stated in part: "Since a bounce occurs when the airplane makes contact with the ground before the proper touchdown attitude is attained, it is almost invariably accompanied by the application of excessive back-elevator pressure. This is usually the result of the pilot realizing too late that the airplane is not in the proper attitude and attempting to establish it just as the second touchdown occurs. The corrective action for a bounce is the same as for ballooning and similarly depends on its severity. When it is very slight and there is no extreme change in the airplane's pitch attitude, a follow-up landing may be executed by applying sufficient power to cushion the subsequent touchdown and smoothly adjusting the pitch to the proper touchdown attitude." "…When a bounce is severe, the safest procedure is to execute a go-around immediately. Do not attempt to salvage the landing. Apply full power while simultaneously maintaining directional control and lowering the nose to a safe climb attitude. The go-around procedure should be continued even though the airplane may descend and another bounce may be encountered. It is extremely foolish to attempt a landing from a bad bounce since airspeed diminishes very rapidly in the nose-high attitude, and a stall may occur before a subsequent touchdown could be made." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N243CC](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N243CC-2022-07-02), registration cancelled 2022-07-02, S/N 88-13243, built 1943 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: NORTH AMERICAN SNJ-4 - Registry model: [North American SNJ-4](https://openairdocs.org/model/north-american-snj-4) (registry code 6400414) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R-1340-AN-1](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r-1340-an-1) (registry code 51612, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 88-13243 - Year built: 1943 - Airframe hours: 14658.7 - Engines: Pratt&Whitney R1340 AN-1 600 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Pilot - Registered owner: Pilot - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 16, 2017 - Departed: AKR, Akron, OH - Destination: 3G4, Ashland, OH - Airport: 3G4, Ashland County Airport, runway 19, 3,501 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 67; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 25, 2017; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 1,565 total, 71 in this make and model, 1,463 as pilot in command, 14 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 300° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,100 ft broken - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 30.01 inHg - Observed at: MFD, 13 nm away ## 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 20170812012479A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170812012479A), Aug 12, 2017: North American SNJ-4, Ashland, OH, Substantial damage. Normal standard pre-flight. Full fuel, normal run up, take off. Approximately 15-20 VFR flight from akr to 3G4, approach standard. Landing planned to be… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 12, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95850. 2.4 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40466568&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Airplane Flying Handbook Excerpt (item 2, .PDF, 791 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40466569&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Airplane%20Flying%20Handbook%20Excerpt-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.