# NTSB CEN19CA237: North American AT 6F, N7976A, Oshkosh, WI, July 24, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 24, 2019, 12:00 local (17:00 UTC) - Place: Oshkosh, WI - Coordinates: 43.99139, -88.559997 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.9914&lon=-88.5600&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 6, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 99942 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN19CA237 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/99942/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99942 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN19CA237 ## Probable cause The pilot's loss of directional control during landing with a quartering tailwind, which resulted in a runway excursion and subsequent substantial damage. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [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-6F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=6400420), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/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 AT-6F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=6400420), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Wind: tailwind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [North American AT-6F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md?model=6400420), [All aircraft, 594 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [North American AT-6F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=6400420), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [North American AT-6F, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=6400420), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [North American AT-6F, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=6400420), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [North American AT-6F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=6400420), [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-6F, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=6400420), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported he was returning to the airfield as part of an 11-ship formation. The wind at the airfield was from between 220° and 230° and 7 to 8 knots. He landed the tailwheel-equipped airplane on the left side of the runway and kept the tail up during landing rollout to allow for spacing with the other aircraft in the formation. When he began to lower the tail to the runway, the wind hit the airplane' left side and lifted the left wing. Despite the pilot's control inputs, the airplane crossed to the right side of the runway, continued into grass, and came to a stop facing south. The left wingtip, aileron, and outboard aileron hinge struck the ground during the excursion, substantially damaging the airplane. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported he was returning to the airfield as part of an eleven-ship formation. The wind at the airfield was 220-230° at 7-8 kts. He landed the tailwheel equipped airplane on the left side of rwy 36 and he kept the tail up during landing rollout to allow for spacing with other aircraft in formation. When he began to lower the tail to the runway wind hit the left side of the airplane and lifted the left wing. Despite the pilot's control inputs the airplane crossed to the right side of the runway and continued into the grass, coming to a stop facing south. The left wingtip, aileron, and outboard aileron hinge struck the ground during the excursion, substantially damaging the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7976A](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7976A), registered now, S/N 121-43192, built 1959 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: North American AT 6F (G) - Registry model: [North American AT-6F](https://openairdocs.org/model/north-american-at-6f) (registry code 6400420) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R1340 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r1340-series) (registry code 52016, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 121-43192 - Year built: 1959 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney R1340 SERIES 550 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Witham Warbirds Llc - Registered owner: Witham Warbirds Llc - Airworthiness certificate: Unknown - Departed: OSH, Oshkosh, WI - Destination: OSH, Oshkosh, WI - Airport: OSH, Wittman Rgnl, runway 36, 8,002 × 150 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 61; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 3, 2018; flight hours: 2,842 total, 380 in this make and model, 73 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 220° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles ## 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 20190724015059A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190724015059A), Jul 24, 2019: North American AT-6F, Oshkosh, WI, Substantial damage. Aircraft was landing and ground looped. ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 29, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99942. 50 KB in all. - Pilot Statement to FAA (item 1, .PDF, 22 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40475321&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statement%20to%20FAA-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation - Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 27 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40475322&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Pilot-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.