# NTSB ERA22LA032: North American AT-6D, N3771M, Pickens, SC, October 24, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: October 24, 2021, 15:45 local (19:45 UTC) - Place: Pickens, SC · Off departure end of runway 23 - Coordinates: 34.804, -82.709 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.8040&lon=-82.7090&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: 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): 104166 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA22LA032 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/104166/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA032 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during landing, resulting in a runway excursion and collision with rocky terrain. ## 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: [North American AT-6D, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=6400416), [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: [North American AT-6D, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=6400416), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Terrain: rough terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [North American AT-6D, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md?model=6400416), [All aircraft, 442 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/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: [North American AT-6D, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=6400416), [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 AT-6D, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=6400416), [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 AT-6D, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=6400416), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he was landing his tailwheel airplane at his home airport at the conclusion of a cross-country trip. The approach and touchdown were normal. The tail came down “a little sooner than I expected” and the airplane briefly lifted off again a few inches. After the airplane touched down again, it began to ground loop, and departed the side of the runway about 1/3 of the way down from the approach end. The airplane continued through the grass and down a drop off, striking several large rocks before coming to a stop. The left main landing gear sheared off and structural damage to the lower fuselage and left wing resulted. The pilot stated that the accident was “pure pilot error” and there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3771M](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3771M), registered now, S/N 88-17109 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: NORTH AMERICAN AT-6D - Registry model: [North American AT-6D](https://openairdocs.org/model/north-american-at-6d) (registry code 6400416) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R1340 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r1340-series) (registry code 52016, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 88-17109 - Airframe hours: 7254 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney R-1340-AN-1 600 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 12, 2021 - Departed: RMG, Rome, GA - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: LQK, Pickens County, runway 05/23, 5,002 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 66; injuries: none; airline transport, flight engineer; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review November 7, 2019; seat: front; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 23,109 total, 387 in this make and model, 38 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 30.10 inHg - Observed at: KLQK, 1 nm away - METAR: METAR KLQK 241955Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 24/12 A3010 RMK AO2 T02390121 ## 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 20211024018849A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20211024018849A), Oct 24, 2021: North American AT-6D, Liberty, SC, Substantial damage. N3771M ground looped during landing on runway 23 at lqk. The aircraft sustained substantial damage to the left wing and landing gear. ## Other investigations on N3771M (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 MIA87LA228](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA87LA228), Aug 22, 1987: North American AT-6D (N3771M), Panama City, FL, substantial damage 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.