# NTSB DEN91LA086: Naval Aircraft Factory N3N-3, N44970, Deming, NM, June 14, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 14, 1991, 14:30 local (20:30 UTC)
- Place: Deming, NM
- Coordinates: 32.259197, -107.750503 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.2592&lon=-107.7505&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 5, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 18100
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN91LA086
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/18100/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN91LA086

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL.  FACTORS WERE:  A CROSSWIND CONDITION AND A SOFT SHOULDER ALONGSIDE THE RUNWAY.

## 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
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor)
- Nose over, landing - roll
  - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - soft (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PILOT AND HIS BROTHER WERE FERRYING THE NEWLY RESTORED AIRPLANE FROM CALIFORNIA TO GEORGIA.  THEY DEPARTED TUCSON, AZ, AND WERE LANDING AT DEMING, NM, FOR FUEL.  THE TETRAHEDRON WAS POINTING TO THE NORTH AND THE PILOT OBSERVED TRAFFIC LANDING ON RUNWAY 4.  THE PILOT SAID AFTER TOUCHING DOWN, THE AIRPLANE SWERVED TO THE RIGHT AND THE TAIL STARTED TO COME UP 'AS IF A SUDDEN GUST OF WIND HAD PICKED IT UP AND PUSHED IT IN THAT DIRECTION.'  THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO CORRECT WITH OPPOSITE RUDDER BUT TO NO AVAIL.  THE AIRPLANE DEPARTED THE SIDE OF THE RUNWAY INTO SOFT DIRT AND OVERTURNED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N44970](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N44970), registered now, S/N 1956, 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: [Pratt & Whitney R-985 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r-985-series) (registry code 52008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 1956
- Engines: P&W R985 450 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Grigoriou, Christos I.
- Registered owner: Grigoriou, Christos I.
- Departed: RYN, TUCSON, AZ
- Airport: DMN, Deming Municipal, runway 4, 5,657 × 60 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 51; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 2,696 total, 13 in this make and model, 2,631 as pilot in command, 41 in the last 90 days, 26 in the last 30 days, 8 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 140° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: -0 °F, dew point -0 °F

## 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 19910614034859A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910614034859A), Jun 14, 1991: Naval N3N3, Deming, NM, Substantial damage. Ferrying home after purchase. Veered off runway on landing en route and nosed over.

## Other investigations on N44970 (1)

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.

- [NTSB ATL94LA153](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL94LA153), Aug 10, 1994: Naval Aircraft Factory N3N-3 (N44970), Beaufort, SC, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT'S IMPROPER USE OF THE RUDDER DURING LANDING.

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.