# NTSB DEN00FA164: North American SNJ-5, N440JG, Steamboat Spg, CO, September 3, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report - Date: September 3, 2000, 14:30 local (20:30 UTC) - Place: Steamboat Spg, CO - Coordinates: 40.489242, -106.829376 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.4892&lon=-106.8294&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 2 fatal - Status: Completed, report July 25, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 50179 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN00FA164 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/50179/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN00FA164 ## Probable cause the pilot's inadvertent entry into a spin while performing aerobatics. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - aerobatics - performed, pilot in command - stall/spin - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The accident airplane was one of three airplanes that were to perform two fly-bys for a rodeo. While the airplanes were maneuvering for the second fly-by, the accident airplane was observed entering a snap roll to the right. At the completion of the roll, the airplane was in a 30 to 40 degree nose down attitude. Subsequently, the airplane entered a nose-low spin to the left. The airplane completed approximately 3 rotations and impacted the ground in a level attitude. ## Factual narrative HISTORY OF FLIGHT On September 3, 2000, at 1430 mountain daylight time, a North American SNJ-5 airplane, N440JG, was destroyed on impact with the ground while maneuvering during an aerial formation flight at Steamboat Springs, Colorado. The airplane was owned and operated by the pilot under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The airline transport pilot and his pilot rated passenger received fatal injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local flight, and a flight plan was not filed. The personal flight departed Steamboat Springs at an undetermined time. According to the flight leader, the accident airplane was one of three aircraft that were to perform two fly-bys during the National Anthem for a rodeo in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. The pilots were briefed on the sequence of events and the formations to be flown. The first fly-by was conducted at 7,800 feet msl (approximately 1,500 feet agl). While positioning for the second fly-by, the leader observed N440JG "snap roll to the right and ending up nose down (30 to 40 degrees). After the snap roll, the aircraft ended up almost wings level but at a nose low attitude. Then the plane entered a nose-low left-spin. The plane did approximately 3 rotations and impacted the ground in level attitude." A witness observed the airplane enter a roll. This witness reported the airplane had a nose down attitude during the roll, and directly from the roll, the airplane entered a "flat spin." PERSONNEL INFORMATION A review of FAA records revealed that the pilot held an airline transport airplane multiengine land rating with commercial privileges in airplane single-engine land and rotorcraft-helicopter. On the pilot's last medical application, dated May 12, 2000, he reported that he had accumulated 17,527 flight hours. AIRCRAFT INFORMATION The North American SNJ-5 airplane, serial number 44014, manufactured in 1944, was registered to the pilot on February 3, 1997. The single-engine airplane was equipped with a Pratt and Whitney R-1340-AN-1 nine cylinder radial engine, serial number P-325432, rated at 600 horsepower, and a Hamilton Standard Propeller, model 12D40. Maintenance records revealed that the last 100 hour inspection was performed on May 5, 2000. METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION At 1415, the weather observation facility at the Haden County, Yampa Valley Airport (approximately 10 nautical miles west of the accident site) reported the wind from 230 degrees at 14 knots gusting to 25 knots with a few clouds at 9,500 feet, and a visibility of 10 statute miles. The reported temperature was 25 degrees Celsius and the dew point -1 degree Celsius. The altimeter setting was 30.30 inches of Mercury. WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION The airplane came to rest upright in a construction site surrounded by commercial buildings. The wings and lower fuselage were crushed upward. The landing gear was in the retracted position. The propeller blades exhibited chordwise striations and leading edge gouges. The outboard portion on one propeller blade was found separated. The separation area exhibited rough deformation consistent with overload. MEDICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL INFORMATION Autopsies of the pilot and passenger were performed at the Jefferson County Coroner’s Office in Golden, Colorado. The FAA Civil Aeromedical Institutes (CAMI) Forensic Toxicological and Accident Research Center at Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, examined the specimens taken by the medical examiner. The CAMI findings for the pilot were positive for 431.373 (ug/ml, ug/g) salicyclate (aspirin) detected in urine. ADDITONAL INFORMATION The airplane was released to the owner's representative. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N440JG](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N440JG-2014-10-02), registration cancelled 2014-10-02, S/N 44014, built 1958 (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: 44014 - Engines: P&W R-1340-AN-1 600 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Joseph E. Gunnels - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, January 2, 2000 - Departed: SBS - Destination: SBS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 59; injuries: fatal; flight instructor, commercial, flight engineer, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; toxicology performed; flight hours: 17,527 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 230° at 14 knots, gusting 21 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 30.29 inHg - Observed at: HDN, 10 nm away ## 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 20000903013949A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000903013949A), Sep 3, 2000: Namer SNJ5, Steamboat Spgs, CO, No damage, 2 fatal. (-23) PIC gunnels was flying as the right wingman in a three ship AT-6 formation fly-by. This event was conducted, from witness observations, between 1700 and… 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.