# NTSB DEN83LA104: North American T-6, N9644C, Grand Junction, CO, April 24, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: April 24, 1983, 11:43 local (17:43 UTC)
- Place: Grand Junction, CO
- Coordinates: 39.080596, -108.550842 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.0806&lon=-108.5508&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 16070
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN83LA104
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/16070/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN83LA104

## 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
  - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - unfavorable wind (contributing factor)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Main gear collapsed, landing - roll
  - landing gear,main gear - overload (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PILOT STATED THAT HE MADE HIS APPROACH TO RWY 22 WITH A CROSSWIND OF 23 KTS. THE ACFT BOUNCED AND RELANDED ON 3 POINTS FAIRLY HARD. THE ACFT ROLLED OUT FOR 100 YARDS VEERING TO LEFT, THEN TURNING 90 DEGREES LEFT. THE RIGHT GEAR COLLAPSED. THE WIND WAS REPORTED FROM 180 DEGREES AT 18 KTS GUSTING TO 25 KTS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N9644C (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: NORTH AMERICAN T-6
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 49-3292
- Airframe hours: 7000
- Engines: P&W R1340-AN-1 600 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Dorr H. Burns
- Registered owner: Robert E. Geer
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Airport: GJC, Walker Field, runway 22, 5,366 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 60; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 4,000 total, 100 in this make and model, 3,800 as pilot in command, 7 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 180° at 18 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 90 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 73 °F
- Observed at: GJT

## 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 19830424015329A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830424015329A), Apr 24, 1983: Namer AT6, Grand Junction, CO, Substantial damage. Bounced and ground looped on a crosswind landing. Side load collapsed the right main gear.

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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