# NTSB ERA09CA242: North American SNJ, N269WB, Bessemer, AL, April 14, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: April 14, 2009, 15:20 local (20:20 UTC) - Place: Bessemer, AL - Coordinates: 33.307498, -86.9225 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.3075&lon=-86.9225&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 13, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 73654 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA09CA242 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/73654/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73654 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09CA242 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control while landing with a crosswind. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [North American-Maslon SNJ-4, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=6400411), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [North American-Maslon SNJ-4, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md?model=6400411), [All aircraft, 933 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md) - [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [North American-Maslon SNJ-4, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=6400411), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [North American-Maslon SNJ-4, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=6400411), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [North American-Maslon SNJ-4, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=6400411), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [North American-Maslon SNJ-4, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=6400411), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [North American-Maslon SNJ-4, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=6400411), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis During landing on Runway 23, the airplane floated more than the pilot expected, and then bounced 2 feet above the runway. As the airplane bounced, it encountered a gust of wind from the west and the pilot attempted unsuccessfully to control the airplane with braking and rudder inputs. The airplane subsequently ground looped and departed the right side of the runway, impacting a tree with the left wing. Examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the engine firewall. No preimpact mechanical malfunctions were reported by the pilot or identified during the examination. The recorded wind about the time of the accident, at an airport 11 miles to the southeast, was from 310 degrees at 9 knots. ## Factual narrative During landing on runway 23, the airplane floated more than expected, and then bounced to a height of 2 feet above the runway. As the airplane bounced, it encountered a gust of wind from the west and the pilot attempted unsuccessfully to control the airplane with braking and rudder inputs. The airplane subsequently ground looped and departed the right side of the runway, impacting a tree with the left wing. Examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the engine firewall. No preimpact mechanical malfunctions were reported by the pilot or identified during the examination. The recorded wind about the time of the accident, at an airport 11 miles to the southeast, was from 310 degrees at 9 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N269WB](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N269WB), registered now, S/N 26992, built 1985 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: NORTH AMERICAN SNJ (4) - Registry model: [North American-Maslon SNJ-4](https://openairdocs.org/model/north-american-maslon-snj-4) (registry code 6400411) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R1340 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r1340-series) (registry code 52016, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 26992 - Airframe hours: 1591 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney R1340 600 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 2, 2008, 15 hours before - Departed: JFX, Jasper, AL - Destination: EKY, Bessemer, AL - Airport: EKY, Bessemer Airport, runway 23, 6,007 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: front; flight hours: 2,750 total, 230 in this make and model, 37 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 310° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,400 ft overcast - Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 41 °F - Altimeter: 29.92 inHg - Observed at: EET, 11 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 20090414007829A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090414007829A), Apr 14, 2009: Namer SNJ4, Bessemer, AL, Substantial damage. (-23) On April 14, 2009 the pilot/owner flew aircraft N269WB from (kjfx) jasper, Alabama to (kedy) Bessemer, Alabama. The pilot landed on runway 23 at 1520… ## Other investigations on N269WB (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 LAX87LA054](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX87LA054), Nov 28, 1986: North American-Maslon SNJ-4 (N269WB), El Cajon, CA, substantial damage ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 3, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73654. 826 KB in all. - Pilot Statement (item 1, .PDF, 30 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40313178&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statement-Master.PDF - FAA Statement (item 2, .PDF, 49 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40313187&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Weather Reports (item 3, .PDF, 60 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40313181&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports-Master.PDF - Photo - Damage to airplane (Photo courtesy of Mechanic) (item 4, .PDF, 345 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40313206&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20-%20Damage%20to%20airplane%20(Photo%20courtesy%20of%20Mechanic)-Master.PDF - Photo - Damage to engine firewall (Photo courtesy of FAA) (item 5, .PDF, 342 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40313207&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20-%20Damage%20to%20engine%20firewall%20(Photo%20courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF 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.