# NTSB CEN20CA176: North American SNJ, N3238G, San Antonio, TX, May 8, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 8, 2020, 10:55 local (15:55 UTC) - Place: San Antonio, TX - Coordinates: 29.723333, -98.694442 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.7233&lon=-98.6944&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 101262 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN20CA176 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101262/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101262 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20CA176 ## Probable cause The pilot's loss of directional control while landing a tailwheel airplane in gusty wind conditions. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [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) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [North American SNJ-6, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=6400422), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Wind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034000): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [North American SNJ-6, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034000/cases.md?model=6400422), [All aircraft, 110 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [North American SNJ-6, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=6400422), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he had just completed a landing in a tailwheel equipped airplane, and he noticed the wind began to shift. He then elected to conduct another wheel landing. The pilot stated he landed on runway 17, on centerline, and that as he lowered the tail, the airplane experienced a strong pull to the right. He was unable to keep the airplane from departing the runway and as he reduced the throttle, the airplane entered a ground loop. The airplane's right main landing gear collapsed, and the wing and propeller struck the ground. Substantial damaged was noted to the right wing. A review of the weather conditions about the time of the accident noted wind at 330° at 3 kts, and 20 minutes later, the wind was reported as 360° at 11 kts with gusts to 17 kts. The accident is consistent with the pilot's loss of control during landing. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that he had just completed a landing in a tailwheel equipped airplane, and he noticed the wind began to shift. He then elected to conduct another wheel landing. The pilot stated he landed on runway 17, on centerline, and that as he lowered the tail, the airplane experienced a strong pull to the right. He was unable to keep the airplane from departing the runway and as he reduced the throttle, the airplane entered a ground loop. The airplane's right main landing gear collapsed, and the wing and propeller struck the ground. Substantial damaged was noted to the right wing. A review of the weather conditions about the time of the accident noted wind at 330° at 3 kts, and 20 minutes later, the wind was reported as 360° at 11 kts with gusts to 17 kts. The accident is consistent with the pilot's loss of control during landing. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3238G](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3238G), registered now, S/N 112348, built 1959 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: North American SNJ (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: 112348 - Year built: 1959 - Airframe hours: 706.1 - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 1, 2020 - Departed: 5C1, San Antonio, TX - Destination: 5C1, San Antonio, TX - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: 5C1, Boerne Stage Field Airport, runway 17, 5,006 × 60 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 46; injuries: none; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2; last flight review January 22, 2019; seat: front; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 4,296 total, 25 in this make and model, 5,296 as pilot in command, 142 in the last 90 days, 63 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 360° at 11 knots, gusting 17 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,700 ft broken - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 29.97 inHg - Observed at: K5C1 ## 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 20200508004999A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200508004999A), May 8, 2020: North American SNJ-6, Boerne, TX, Substantial damage. N3238G a North American SNJ-6 on may 8, 2020 departed runway 17 from Boerne Stage airpark (5C1) to the west. Returning to 5C1 from the west, pilot entered… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 26, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101262. 6.4 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 5.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40484811&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Photos (item 2, .PDF, 931 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40484812&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photos-Master.PDF - Weather (item 3, .PDF, 39 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40484813&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather-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.