# NTSB CHI03LA285: North American AT-6, N37642, Omaha, NE, August 24, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 24, 2003, 12:45 local (17:45 UTC) - Place: Omaha, NE - Coordinates: 41.118331, -95.912498 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.1183&lon=-95.9125&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 2, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 57845 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI03LA285 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/57845/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI03LA285 ## Probable cause The pilot not maintaining aircraft control during the landing roll. Factors were the grass the airplane encountered when the airplane ground looped off the runway and the main gear collapsed. ## 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 - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - grass (contributing factor) - landing gear,main gear - collapsed (contributing factor) ## Analysis The experimental exhibition tail wheel equipped airplane sustained substantial damage on contact with terrain when its left main landing gear collapsed during a ground loop. The pilot said, "I made a smooth 3-point landing at approximately 1245, and on roll out the airplane's right wing came up and the airplane made a turn to the right. I was unable to correct before it slid onto the grass, at that point the left main gear collapsed, causing the wing and prop to hit the ground." The wind was 200 degrees at 8 knots. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions prior to the accident. ## Factual narrative On August 24, 2003, about 1245 central daylight time, an experimental exhibition North American AT-6, N37642, piloted by a commercial pilot, sustained substantial damage on impact with terrain when its left main landing gear collapsed during a ground loop at Offutt Air Force Base (OFF), near Omaha, Nebraska. The air show flight was operating under 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. No flight plan was on file. The pilot was uninjured. The local flight originated from OFF at 1230 and was landing at the time of the accident. The pilot reported: I took off during the air show [at] 1230 and made 3 passes down the runway (12) [at] 400 [feet] and then set up for the landing on the down wind leg of the 4th pass. ... I made a smooth 3-point landing at approximately 1245, and on roll out the airplanes right wing came up and the airplane made a turn to the right. I was unable to correct before it slid onto the grass, at that point the left main gear collapsed, causing the wing and prop to hit the ground. The pilot reported thet there were no mechanical malfunctions prior to the accident. At 1255, the recorded OFF wind was 200 degrees at 8 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N37642](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N37642), registered now, S/N 10560 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: North American AT-6 - Registry model: [North American AT-6](https://openairdocs.org/model/north-american-at-6) (registry code 6400402) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 88-10560 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney R-1340-ANI 550 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Air race/show, Part 91 - Registered owner: Larry G. Perry - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, April 15, 2003, 26.5 hours before - Departed: OFF, Omaha, NE - Destination: OFF, Omaha, NE - Airport: OFF, Offutt Afb, runway 12, 11,700 × 300 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 62; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review July 21, 2003; seat: front; flight hours: 2,375 total, 700 in this make and model, 2,225 as pilot in command, 21 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 8 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 95 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: OFF ## 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 20030824024699A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030824024699A), Aug 24, 2003: Namer AT6, Omaha, NE, Substantial damage. (-23) A landing was made and on rollout the airplane's right wing came up. The airplane made a right turn and ground looped. The left main gear collapsed,… 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.