# NTSB CHI08CA186: Naval Aircraft Factory N3N-3, N582WH, Luckey, OH, June 7, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 7, 2008, 11:30 local (15:30 UTC) - Place: Luckey, OH - Coordinates: 41.460834, -83.476112 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.4608&lon=-83.4761&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 30, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Cleveland, OH, FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 68409 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI08CA186 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/68409/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI08CA186 ## Probable cause The pilot not maintaining clearance from the high vegetation during the off airport landing. Contributing to the accident was the high vegetation. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Naval Aircraft Factory N3N-3, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023000/cases.md?model=6120202), [All aircraft, 253 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023000/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Naval Aircraft Factory N3N-3, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=6120202), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [Naval Aircraft Factory N3N-3, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022000/cases.md?model=6120202), [All aircraft, 224 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470) (defining event); cases with it: [Naval Aircraft Factory N3N-3, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=6120202), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis While on a cross country flight, the pilot elected to make an off airport landing to an open field due to a fluctuating oil pressure gauge. The pilot said that the "wing tip hit the wheat which rotated the aircraft as the landing gear touched the ground." The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane reference the flight. An examination of the wreckage revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane. The pilot's safety recommendation was, "Think about the landing not saving the engine. Land in the center of the field not the edge ... ." ## Factual narrative While on a cross country flight, the pilot elected to make an off airport landing to an open field due to a fluctuating oil pressure gauge. The pilot said that the "wing tip hit the wheat which rotated the aircraft as the landing gear touched the ground." The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane reference the flight. An examination of the wreckage revealed no anomalies that would have precluded operation of the airplane. The pilot's safety recommendation was, "Think about the landing not saving the engine. Land in the center of the field not the edge ... ." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N582WH](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N582WH), registered now, S/N 2003, built 1940 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Naval Aircraft Factory N3N-3 - Registry model: [Naval Aircraft Factory N3N-3](https://openairdocs.org/model/naval-aircraft-factory-n3n-3) (registry code 6120202) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Wright 760A B D E&ET](https://openairdocs.org/engine/wright-760a-b-d-e-et) (registry code 67009, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 2003 - Airframe hours: 147.2 - Engines: Wright R760 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: William Hirzel - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 1, 2008 - Departed: TDZ, TOLEDO, OH - Destination: 1G0, BOWLING GREEN, OH ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 66; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 1, 2006; seat: rear; flight hours: 1,809 total, 109 in this make and model, 1,809 as pilot in command, 28 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Observed at: TDZ ## 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 20080607846279A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080607846279A), Jun 7, 2008: Naval N3N3, Webster Townsh, OH, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot elected to make precautionary landing in field due to fluctuating oil pressure. Upon touchdown in plowed field lower wing tip hit higher vegetation… 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.