# NTSB ERA14CA394: North American SNJ-6, N211A, Readington, NJ, August 16, 2014

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: August 16, 2014, 10:00 local (14:00 UTC)
- Place: Readington, NJ
- Coordinates: 40.583057, -74.736389 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.5831&lon=-74.7364&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 15, 2014
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 89907
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA14CA394
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/89907/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89907
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA14CA394

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during landing which resulted in an aircraft nose-over.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [North American SNJ-6, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=6400422), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [North American SNJ-6, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=6400422), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [North American SNJ-6, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023000/cases.md?model=6400422), [All aircraft, 253 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023000/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [North American SNJ-6, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=6400422), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [North American SNJ-6, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=6400422), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [North American SNJ-6, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=6400422), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [North American SNJ-6, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=6400422), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [North American SNJ-6, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=6400422), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

While landing on a 3,442 foot long by 200 foot wide turf runway, the pilot of the tailwheel equipped airplane touched down in a 3 point attitude. He advised that his approach was normal and on speed, and the airplane touched down normally at 60 to 63 miles per hour and began to decelerate. The turf was a "bit rough" and had some areas that were bumpier than others. The airplane hit a bump at around 30-35 MPH and launched back in to the air to an estimated altitude of about 6 to 8 feet above ground level in a nose high attitude. The airplane then touched down tail first, then the main landing gear touched down. The tail then bounced back in the air and continued to climb up, forcing the plane to wheel barrel for about 50 feet then the propeller struck the ground, the engine cowling contacted the ground, and the airplane nosed over onto its back in the center of the runway. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that it had incurred substantial damage to multiple areas including the propeller, engine cowling, cockpit canopy, vertical stabilizer, rudder, and left wing.

## Factual narrative

While landing on a 3,442 foot long by 200 foot wide turf runway, the pilot of the tailwheel equipped airplane touched down in a 3 point attitude. He advised that his approach was normal and on speed, and the airplane touched down normally at 60 to 63 miles per hour and began to decelerate. The turf was a "bit rough" and had some areas that were bumpier than others. The airplane hit a bump at around 30-35 MPH and launched back in to the air to an estimated altitude of about 6 to 8 feet above ground level in a nose high attitude. The airplane then touched down tail first, then the main landing gear touched down. The tail then bounced back in the air and continued to climb up, forcing the plane to wheel barrel for about 50 feet then the propeller struck the ground, the engine cowling contacted the ground, and the airplane nosed over onto its back in the center of the runway. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that it had incurred substantial damage to multiple areas including the propeller, engine cowling, cockpit canopy, vertical stabilizer, rudder, and left wing.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N211A](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N211A), registered now, S/N 121-42318, built 1958 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: NORTH AMERICAN SNJ-6
- Registry model: [North American SNJ-6](https://openairdocs.org/model/north-american-snj-6) (registry code 6400422) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R1340 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r1340-series) (registry code 52016, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 121-42318
- Year built: 1958
- Airframe hours: 3015
- Engines: P&W R1340 SERIES 550 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, September 1, 2013
- Departed: SMQ, Somerville, NJ
- Destination: N51, Readington, NJ
- Airport: N51, Solberg-Hunterdon, runway 31, 3,442 × 200 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 53; injuries: none; flight engineer, commercial, private, flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 24, 2014; seat: front; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 21,000 total, 2,100 in this make and model, 10,090 as pilot in command, 50 in the last 90 days, 18 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: SMQ, 4 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 20140816024049A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140816024049A), Aug 16, 2014: North American SNJ-6, Whitehouse Stat, NJ, Minor damage. Pilot made a normal 3 point landing on rwy 31 turf. Wind reported as 290 @6-10 knots. On rollout while slowing through approximately 30 knots pilot reported…

## Docket (6 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 8, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89907. 3.7 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 597 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40419788&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Witness Statement and Interview Summary (item 2, .PDF, 268 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40419789&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statement%20and%20Interview%20Summary-Redacted.PDF
- Weather Reports and Records - KSMQ METARs (item 3, .PDF, 33 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40419790&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records%20-%20KSMQ%20METARs-Master.PDF
- Photo 1 - Main Wreckage (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 4, .PDF, 75 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40419791&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20Main%20Wreckage%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF
- Photo 2 - Vertical Stabilizer and Rudder (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 5, .PDF, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40419792&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20-%20Vertical%20Stabilizer%20and%20Rudder%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF
- Photo 3 - Left Wing Tip (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 6, .PDF, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40419793&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203%20-%20Left%20Wing%20Tip%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.

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