# NTSB CHI07CA303: North American SNJ-5, N11HP, Bloomington, IL, September 22, 2007

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: September 22, 2007, 16:30 local (21:30 UTC)
- Place: Bloomington, IL
- Coordinates: 40.477222, -88.916114
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.4772&lon=-88.9161&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 20, 2007
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - Springfield FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 67079
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI07CA303
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/67079/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI07CA303

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during takeoff roll which resulted in a ground loop.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - on ground/water, takeoff - roll/run
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - ground loop/swerve - encountered, pilot in command (cause)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, takeoff - roll/run
  - terrain condition - ground

## Analysis

The airplane ground looped during the takeoff roll.  The pilot reported that the airplane started to veer to the left as he increased engine power for the takeoff roll on runway 11 (6,525 feet by 150 feet, concrete).  The pilot reduced engine power to idle as the airplane departed off the left side of the runway.  The right wingtip, tip rib, and aileron were damaged during the ground loop.  The pilot reported that his rapid advance of engine power and inadequate use of up-elevator (backstick) contributed to the tail becoming prematurely airborne and the subsequent loss of directional control.  The winds were reported to be variable at 5 knots.

## Factual narrative

The airplane ground looped during takeoff roll.  The pilot reported that the airplane started to veer to the left as he increased engine power for the takeoff roll on runway 11 (6,525 feet by 150 feet, concrete).  The pilot reduced engine power to idle as the airplane departed off the left side of the runway.  The right wingtip, tip rib, and aileron were damaged during the ground loop.  The pilot reported that his rapid advance of engine power and inadequate use of up-elevator (backstick) contributed to the tail becoming prematurely airborne and the subsequent loss of directional control.  The winds were reported to be variable at 5 knots.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N11HP](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N11HP), registered now, S/N 90735, built 1943 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: North American SNJ-5
- Registry model: [North American SNJ-5](https://openairdocs.org/model/north-american-snj-5) (registry code 6400418) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R1340 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r1340-series) (registry code 52016, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 90735
- Airframe hours: 7339
- Engines: Pratt & Whitney R1340AN1 600 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Mustang Aviation Partners, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, November 1, 2006
- Departed: BMI, Bloomington, IL
- Destination: ARR, Aurora, IL
- Airport: BMI, Central Illinois Regional, runway 11, 6,525 × 150 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 50; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3; last flight review August 1, 2006; seat: front; flight hours: 637 total, 89 in this make and model, 539 as pilot in command, 46 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: variable at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 36 °F
- Altimeter: 30.13 inHg
- Observed at: BMI

## 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 20070922832069A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070922832069A), Sep 22, 2007: Namer SNJ5, Bloomington/No, IL, Substantial damage. (-23) An airman in an SNJ-5, N11HP, lost directional control during takeoff. The aircraft departed the left side of the runway and into the grass where it…

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.

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