# NTSB ERA21LA358: Alon A2, N5644F, Abingdon, VA, September 13, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: September 13, 2021, 09:47 local (13:47 UTC) - Place: Abingdon, VA - Coordinates: 36.687103, -82.033327 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.6871&lon=-82.0333&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 103864 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA21LA358 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103864/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103864 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA358 ## Probable cause The failure of a nosewheel steering actuator arm, which resulted in a loss of control during the landing rollout. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Landing gear system: landing gear steering system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023250): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Alon A2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023250/cases.md?model=0540102), [All aircraft, 32 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023250/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: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330) (defining event); cases with it: [Alon A2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md?model=0540102), [All aircraft, 994 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); cases with it: [Alon A2, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=0540102), [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: [Alon A2, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=0540102), [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: [Alon A2, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=0540102), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Alon A2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=0540102), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that during the landing rollout, as the nosewheel touched down, the airplane turned about 30° to the left. He applied right rudder; however, the airplane did not respond. As the airplane departed the runway into the wet grass, he applied the brakes, which “had little effect.” The airplane struck an embankment, nosed over, and sustained substantial damage to the horizontal and vertical stabilizers. Examination of the airplane revealed that one of the nosewheel steering actuator arms was fractured. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5644F](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5644F-2023-05-27), registration cancelled 2023-05-27, S/N A-244, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: ALON A2 - Registry model: [Alon A2](https://openairdocs.org/model/alon-a2) (registry code 0540102) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C90 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c90-series) (registry code 17009, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: A-244 - Year built: 1967 - Airframe hours: 1954 - Engines: Continental C90-16F 90 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 16, 2021 - Departed: LHQ, Lancaster, OH - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: VJI, Virginia Highlands, runway 06, 4,471 × 75 ft, concrete - Equipment: Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 68; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 24, 2020; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 3,150 total, 20 in this make and model, 36 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 30.33 inHg - Observed at: VJI - METAR: KVJI 131335Z AUTO 25004KT 10SM CLR 19/18 A3033 RMK AO2 T01930179 ## 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 20210913015649A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210913015649A), Sep 13, 2021: Alon A2, Abingdon, VA, Destroyed. Pilot stated -turned two mile final to runway 06 at kvji. Winds were calm. Maintained about 67 mph airspeed to the ground. Flared, Landed softly at about sixty… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 5, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103864. 10.4 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 5.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12884530&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=01-01%20NTSB%20form%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record - information from FAA inspector (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 205 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12883171&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=01-04%20%20MFR%20-%20Information%20from%20FAA%20Inspector_ERA21LA358-Rel.pdf - Investigative photographs (item 3, PDF, 4 pages, 4 photos, 4.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12884477&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=06-01%20Photo%20Array%20-%20ERA21LA358_b-Rel.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.