# NTSB DFW06CA194: Curtiss-Wright Travel Air 4000, N6106, Jackson, MS, July 29, 2006 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 29, 2006, 09:45 local (14:45 UTC) - Place: Jackson, MS - Coordinates: 32.451667, -90.363891 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.4517&lon=-90.3639&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report November 29, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Jackson, MS - NTSB case key (mKey): 64218 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DFW06CA194 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/64218/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW06CA194 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed on final approach resulting in an inadvertent stall and a subsequent loss of control. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, landing - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - ground - Fire, other - lubricating system,oil line - fractured ## Analysis The 1,300-hour instrument rated private pilot lost control of the tailwheel-equipped vintage airplane while landing to the southeast at his privately owned grass airstrip. The pilot reported that the single engine biplane swerved to the right during the takeoff roll and the airplane began turning to the left after the airplane became airborne. The pilot continued his climb until the airplane cleared the trees on the north side of the airstrip and allowed the airplane to continued the left turn until he was back over the runway. The pilot stated on the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident Report (NTSB form 6120.1) that while on short final to land, "the nose fell, I tried to add power but the engine hesitated and the airplane impacted the ground." The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, who responded to the accident site, examined the airplane and found the main landing gear collapsed, as well as fire damage to the upper wing. The inspector was also able to establish flight control continuity. The examination also determined that during the impact sequence, an external engine oil line separated and oil was sprayed on the hot exhaust stack that initiated the post impact fire. The pilot reported that at the time of the mishap, the winds were variable at 2 knots. The winds at the nearest weather reporting facility, located 20 miles southeast of the accident site, were reporting the wind from 240 degrees at 3 knots at the time of the mishap. ## Factual narrative The 1,300-hour instrument rated private pilot lost control of the tailwheel-equipped vintage airplane while landing to the southeast at his privately owned grass airstrip. The pilot reported that the single engine biplane swerved to the right during the take-off roll and the airplane began turning to the left after the airplane became airborne. The pilot continued his climb until the airplane cleared the trees on the north side of the airstrip and allowed the airplane to continued the left turn until he was back over the runway. The pilot stated on the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident Report (NTSB form 6120.1) that while on short final to land, "the nose fell, I tried to add power but the engine hesitated and the airplane impacted the ground." A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, who responded to the accident site, examined the airplane and found the main landing gear collapsed and fire damage to the upper wing. The inspector was also able to establish flight control continuity. The examination also determined that during the impact sequence, an external engine oil line separated and oil was sprayed on the hot engine exhaust stack that initiated the post impact fire. The pilot reported that at the time of the mishap, the winds were variable at 2 knots. The winds at the nearest weather reporting facility, located 20 miles southeast of the accident site, were reporting the wind from 240 degrees at 3 knots at the time of the mishap. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6106](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6106), registered now, S/N 604, built 1928 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Curtiss-Wright Travel Air 4000 - Registry model: [Curtiss Wright TRAVEL AIR 4000](https://openairdocs.org/model/curtiss-wright-travel-air-4000) (registry code 2621802) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental W670 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-w670-series) (registry code 17018, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 604 - Airframe hours: 1300 - Engines: Continental 670-6m 220 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: John E. Mosley - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 1, 2006, 16 hours before - Departed: Jackson, MS - Destination: Jackson, MS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 1, 2005; flight hours: 1,300 total, 18 in this make and model, 60 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 3 knots - Visibility: 9 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 73 °F - Altimeter: 30.17 inHg - Observed at: KHKS, 20 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 20060729017129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060729017129A), Jul 29, 2006: Curtis TRVAIR4000, Clinton, MS, Substantial damage. (-23) On Saturday, August 29, 2006, approximately 1000 local time I was informed by regional operation center (roc), there was an accident north of Clinton,… 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.