# NTSB CHI03LA077: Swearingen SA-26AT, N30TF, Cahokia, IL, February 16, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 16, 2003, 17:23 local (23:23 UTC) - Place: Cahokia, IL - Coordinates: 38.570556, -90.156112 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.5706&lon=-90.1561&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 30, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA - St. Louis FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 56563 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI03LA077 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/56563/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI03LA077 ## Probable cause The pilot failed to maintain directional control of the airplane during landing. Factors associated with the accident were the snow covered runway, the crosswind, and the overload failure of the nose gear. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - snow covered (contributing factor) - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - ground - Nose gear collapsed, landing - roll - landing gear,nose gear - overload (contributing factor) ## Analysis The nose gear separated from the airplane following a loss of directional control while landing. The pilot reported the automatic terminal information service (ATIS) was reporting the wind as being from 010 degrees at 14 knots, gusting to 21 knots. He reported that prior to landing, he was informed by the tower that the braking action was fair. The pilot reported that during the landing roll, at a speed of about 30 miles per hour, the airplane began drifting to the left. He stated that he attempted to correct the drift using nose wheel steering, right rudder, and right brake, to no avail. He reported the thick ice and snow on the left side of the runway pulled the airplane further to the left. The airplane departed the left side of the runway where it came to rest on its nose. The nose gear had separated from the airplane and according to the pilot, it was located approximately 20 feet behind the airplane. Friction testing on runway 30L performed approximately 46 minutes prior to the accident produced readings of 34%g, 36%g, and 33%g, on various sections of the runway. These readings equate to a medium braking action. ## Factual narrative On February 16, 2003, at 1723 central standard time, a Swearingen SA-26AT, N30TF, experienced a nose gear separation following a loss of directional control while landing on runway 30L (6,997 feet by 100 feet, asphalt) at the St. Louis Downtown Airport, Cahokia, Illinois. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. The 14 CFR Part 91 flight was operating in instrument meteorological conditions, and an IFR flight plan was filed. The flight originated from Indianapolis, Indiana, at 1600. The pilot reported the automatic terminal information service (ATIS) was reporting the wind as being from 010 degrees at 14 knots, gusting to 21 knots. He reported that prior to landing, he was informed by the tower that the braking action was fair. The pilot reported that during the landing roll, at a speed of about 30 miles per hour, the airplane began drifting to the left. He stated that he attempted to correct the drift using nose wheel steering, right rudder, and right brake, to no avail. He reported the thick ice and snow on the left side of the runway pulled the airplane further to the left. The airplane departed the left side of the runway where it came to rest on its nose. The nose gear had separated from the airplane and according to the pilot, it was located approximately 20 feet behind the airplane. Friction testing on runway 30L performed approximately 46 minutes prior to the accident produced readings of 34%g, 36%g, and 33%g on various sections of the runway. According to International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) definitions, these readings place the braking action in the medium range. An annotation written on the Airfield Friction paperwork stated, "1/2 inch loosely packed wet snow at all 3 locations." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N30TF](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N30TF-2004-03-16), registration cancelled 2004-03-16, S/N T26-162 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Swearingen SA-26AT - Registry model: [Swearingen SA-26AT](https://openairdocs.org/model/swearingen-sa-26at) (registry code 8780112) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: T-26-162 - Airframe hours: 5700 - Engines: Garrett 331-1 675 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Merlin Aviation, LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, February 7, 2003, 7 hours before - Departed: EYE, Indianapolis, IN - Destination: CPS, Cahokia, IL - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: CPS, St. Louis Downtown Airport, runway 30L, 6,997 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 59; injuries: none; airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review August 13, 2002; seat: left; flight hours: 12,000 total, 400 in this make and model, 100 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Dusk - Wind: 10° at 14 knots - Visibility: 0.75 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 600 ft indefinitevv - Temperature: 21 °F, dew point 18 °F - Altimeter: 30.17 inHg - Observed at: CPS ## 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 20030216003779A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030216003779A), Feb 16, 2003: Swrngn SA26AT, Cahokia, IL, Substantial damage. (-23) On 02/16/03 swearingen model SA-26AT, registration number N30TF, landed on runway 30L at st. Louis Downtown Parks airport (cps) at 1720 local time.… 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.