# NTSB DEN99LA155: North American SNJ-4 (AT-6), N7011C, Mack, CO, August 28, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 28, 1999, 11:30 local (17:30 UTC) - Place: Mack, CO - Coordinates: 39.220699, -108.869453 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.2207&lon=-108.8695&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 22, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 47261 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN99LA155 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/47261/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN99LA155 ## Probable cause The pilot misjudging his distance and altitude from the runway. A factor was the tall crops. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with terrain/water, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - distance/altitude - misjudged, pilot in command (cause) - maneuver to avoid obstructions - attempted, pilot in command - terrain condition - crop (contributing factor) - Nose over, landing - roll ## Analysis The pilot had landed at this airport 'at least a dozen times' in the past 15 years, and was aware of 'a low crop at the approach end of [runway] 25.' He said he had this same picture in his mind as he made his approach. When he was approximately 200 to 300 feet from the runway, he realized he was too low (the corn stalks were 8 to 10 feet tall). He applied power and up elevator, but the airplane contacted the corn stalks, settled to the ground, rolled a short distance, then nosed over. ## Factual narrative On August 28, 1999, approximately 1130 mountain daylight time, a North American SNJ-4 (AT-6), N7011C, operated by Loma Enterprises LLC, was substantially damaged when it collided with terrain during a landing approach and subsequent nose over at Mack Mesa Airstrip, Mack, Colorado. The commercial pilot received minor injuries but the single passenger was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the personal flight being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated at Walker Field, Grand Junction, Colorado, approximately 1100. The pilot indicated in his accident report that he had landed at Mack Mesa Airport "at least a dozen times" in the past 15 years, and was aware of "a low crop at the approach end of [runway] 25." He said he had this same picture in his mind as he made his approach. When he was approximately 200 to 300 feet from the runway, he realized he was too low (the corn stalks were 8 to 10 feet tall). He applied power and up elevator, but the airplane contacted the corn stalks, settled to the ground, rolled a short distance, then nosed over. Both wings and the horizontal and vertical stabilizers were extensively damaged. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7011C](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7011C), registered now, S/N 8813805 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: North American SNJ-4 (AT-6) (SNJ-4 (AT-) - Registry model: [North American SNJ-4](https://openairdocs.org/model/north-american-snj-4) (registry code 6400414) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R1340 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r1340-series) (registry code 52016, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 88-13805 - Airframe hours: 5821 - Engines: P&W R-1340-AN1 600 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Loma Enterprises LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 5, 1999, 28 hours before - Departed: GJT, GRAND JUNCTION, CO - Destination: 0CO5 - Airport: 0CO5, Mack Mesa, runway 25 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 63; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 2,800 total, 675 in this make and model, 6 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 160° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: GJT, 23 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 19990828027679A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990828027679A), Aug 28, 1999: Namer AT6, Mack, CO, Substantial damage. (.19) On August 28, 1999, approximately 1130 mountain daylight time, a north American SNJ-4 (AT-6), N7011C, operated by loma enterprises LLC, was substantially… 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.