# NTSB ERA14CA238: North American AT6 - C, N164EW, Roxbury, NY, May 9, 2014 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 9, 2014, 12:32 local (16:32 UTC) - Place: Roxbury, NY - Coordinates: 42.300556, -74.553054 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.3006&lon=-74.5531&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing area overshoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report December 15, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - NTSB case key (mKey): 89205 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA14CA238 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/89205/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89205 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA14CA238 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain adequate obstacle clearance, which resulted in the inflight collision with a power line. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Planning/preparation: weather planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061020): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot; cases with it: [North American AT-6C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061020/cases.md?model=6400412), [All aircraft, 156 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061020/cases.md) - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: wet surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023010): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Decision related to condition; cases with it: [North American AT-6C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023010/cases.md?model=6400412), [All aircraft, 141 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023010/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [North American AT-6C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=6400412), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: identification/recognition](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [North American AT-6C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md?model=6400412), [All aircraft, 559 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [North American AT-6C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=6400412), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: wire](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Awareness of condition (probable cause); cases with it: [North American AT-6C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md?model=6400412), [All aircraft, 588 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/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: Landing area overshoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380) (defining event); cases with it: [North American AT-6C, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380/sequence.md?model=6400412), [All aircraft, 400 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380/sequence.md) - [Landing-aborted after touchdown: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [North American AT-6C, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=6400412), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to pilot he checked the weather at his destination airport and it called for VFR weather. While enroute to his destination he stated that the weather was deteriorating and the ceilings were getting low. As a precaution he started to look for a place to land since the weather was closing in and his fuel was also getting low. The pilot located a private grass strip and made an attempt to land. As the airplane touched down on the field the pilot applied the brakes, but he had little brake response due to the wet grass. When the pilot relized that he would be unable to stop the airplane prior to the end of the runway, he initiated a go-around and struck a power line follow by trees before losing control and colliding with the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage. The pilot did not report any mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation prior to the accident. ## Factual narrative According to pilot he checked the weather at his destination airport and it called for VFR weather. While enroute to his destination he stated that the weather was deteriorating and the ceilings were getting low. As a precaution he started to look for a place to land since the weather was closing in and his fuel was also getting low. The pilot located a private grass strip and made an attempt to land. As the airplane touched down on the field the pilot applied the brakes, but he had little brake response due to the wet grass. When the pilot realized that he would be unable to stop the airplane prior to the end of the runway, he initiated a go-around and struck a power line followed by trees before losing control and colliding with the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage. The pilot did not report any mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation prior to the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N164EW](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N164EW-2018-01-02), registration cancelled 2018-01-02, S/N 4133808, built 1943 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: NORTH AMERICAN AT6 - C (C) - Registry model: [North American AT-6C](https://openairdocs.org/model/north-american-at-6c) (registry code 6400412) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R-1340-AN-1](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r-1340-an-1) (registry code 51612, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 4133808 - Year built: 1943 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney R1340 AN1 600 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: LNN, Willoughby, OH - Destination: 1NK0, Roxbury, NY - Airport: 1NK0, Roxbury Runway Airport, runway 21, 1,735 × 100 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 45; injuries: serious; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 6,720 total, 6,720 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 150° at 11 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 800 ft overcast - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 30.15 inHg - Observed at: 1NK0 ## 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 20140509010939A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140509010939A), May 9, 2014: North American AT-6C, Roxbury, NY, Substantial damage. Pilot was attempting to land on a grass strip at the Roxbury, NY airport due to deteriorating weather. The pilot stated that upon touching down, he realized… ## Docket (9 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 10, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89205. 31.1 MB in all. - Note Regarding Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 13 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40419902&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Note%20Regarding%20Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Pilot's Statement (item 2, .PDF, 559 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40419903&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%27s%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - New York State Police Report (item 3, .PDF, 17.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40419904&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=New%20York%20State%20Police%20Report-Redacted.PDF - Pilot and Aircraft Logbook Pages (item 4, .PDF, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40419905&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20and%20Aircraft%20Logbook%20Pages-Redacted.PDF - Memorandum of Record - Weather (item 5, .PDF, 59 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40419907&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20of%20Record%20-%20Weather-Master.PDF - Photo 1 - Main Wreckage (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 6, .PDF, 116 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40419906&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20Main%20Wreckage%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF - Photo 2 - Engine (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 7, .PDF, 4.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40419908&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20-%20Engine%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF - Photo 3 - Fuselage and Empennage (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 8, .PDF, 3.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40419909&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203%20-%20Fuselage%20and%20Empennage%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF - Photo 4 - Wing Section (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 9, .PDF, 4.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40419910&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%204%20-%20Wing%20Section%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.