# NTSB ERA12CA334: Boeing A75N1(PT17), N71327, Weirsdale, FL, May 11, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 11, 2012, 17:30 local (21:30 UTC) - Place: Weirsdale, FL - Coordinates: 28.961944, -81.891387 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.9619&lon=-81.8914&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 15, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 83621 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA12CA334 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/83621/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83621 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12CA334 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control while landing in a gusty variable crosswind. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Boeing A75N1(PT17), 27 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=1380134), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Boeing A75N1(PT17), 33 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=1380134), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Boeing A75N1(PT17), 32 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=1380134), [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: [Boeing A75N1(PT17), 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=1380134), [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: [Boeing A75N1(PT17), 22 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=1380134), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane was landing on a turf runway when a gust of wind caused the airplane to drift off the left side of the runway. The airplane traveled down an embankment, struck a tree, and came to rest nose down. The pilot stated that during the landing, the wind was gusting up to 18 knots from varying directions (initially a headwind, then a left crosswind, and then a right crosswind). He further stated that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Postaccident examination revealed damage to the wings and right horizontal stabilizer. The recorded wind at an airport located about 10 miles southeast of the accident site about 20 minutes after the accident was from 110 degrees at 10 knots. ## Factual narrative The pilot of the tailwheel airplane was performing a landing to runway 9, a 2,500-foot-long, 100-foot-wide, turf runway. During the landing, the wind was gusting up to 18 knots from varying directions. The wind was initially a headwind, then a left crosswind, and then a right crosswind. As the airplane touched down, a gust of wind caused the airplane to drift left off of the runway. The airplane traveled down an embankment, struck a tree, and came to rest nose down. The pilot added that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions with the airplane. Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed damage to the wings and right horizontal stabilizer. The recorded wind at an airport located about 10 miles southeast of the accident site, about 20 minutes after the accident, was from 110 degrees at 10 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N71327](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N71327), registered now, S/N 75-756, built 1941 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BOEING A75N1(PT17) - Registry model: [Boeing A75N1(PT17)](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-a75n1-pt17) (registry code 1380134) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental W670 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-w670-series) (registry code 17018, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 75-756 - Engines: Continental W670 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Reed Peter B - Registered owner: Reed Peter B - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 11, 2012, 4 hours before - Departed: 97FL, Weirsdale, FL - Destination: 97FL, Weirsdale, FL - Airport: 97FL, Love Field, runway 09, 2,500 × 100 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 68; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 4, 2011; seat: rear; flight hours: 1,200 total, 818 in this make and model, 1,145 as pilot in command, 7 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 110° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: LEE, 10 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 20120511007399A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120511007399A), May 11, 2012: Boeing A75N1(PT17), Weirsdale, FL, Substantial damage. The acft departed the left side of rwy 9 during landing, went over a downward-sloping embankment, and impacted a citrus tree before coming to rest nose-down.… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 15, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83621. 883 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 643 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40368076&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Weather Report (item 2, .PDF, 15 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40368077&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Report-Master.PDF - Photo: Wreckage (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 3, .PDF, 225 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40368078&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%3A%20%20Wreckage%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.