# NTSB FTW03LA144: Boeing A75N1, N55133, Houston, TX, April 26, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 26, 2003, 13:10 local (18:10 UTC) - Place: Houston, TX - Coordinates: 29.622222, -95.656387 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.6222&lon=-95.6564&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 30, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 56934 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW03LA144 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/56934/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW03LA144 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control while landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - vasi light/system ## Analysis During landing, the "main wheels touched down as normal." As the tail of the airplane started to come down, the airplane "encountered a wind shift/gust that raised the left wing." Subsequently, the aircraft veered to the right and exited the runway. The lower left wing struck the ground, and the left rear section of the fuselage struck the runway Precision Approach Path Indicator (PAPI) lighting system. ## Factual narrative On April 26, 2003, at 1310 central daylight time, a Boeing A75N1 tailwheel-equipped airplane, N55133, owned and operated by Classic Planes Inc. of Spring, Texas, sustained substantial damage when it ground looped while landing on runway 17 at the SugarLand Regional Airport, Houston, Texas. The airline transport rated pilot and his passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The local flight departed David Wayne Hooks Memorial Airport (DWH), near Tomball, Texas, at 0900. The 17,500-hour pilot reported in the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2) that during landing, the "main wheels touched down as normal." As the tail of the aircraft settled onto the runway, it "encountered a wind shift/gust that raised the left wing." Subsequently, the aircraft veered to the right and exited the runway. The lower left wing struck the ground, and the left rear section of the fuselage struck the runway Precision Approach Path Indicator (PAPI) lighting system. Examination of the aircraft by an FAA inspector, who responded to the accident site, revealed the outboard 3 feet of the lower left wing was bent upward approximately 45 degrees. The left side of the fuselage, aft of the left wing and left horizontal stabilizer, was punctured. Runway 17 is 8,000-feet long and 100-feet wide. At the time of the accident, the winds were reported as variable at 6 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N55133](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N55133), registered now, S/N 75-867, built 1941 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Boeing A75N1 - 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: 867 - Airframe hours: 7000 - Engines: Continental W670-6N 220 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Classic Planes Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, September 1, 2002, 75 hours before - Departed: DWH, HOUSTON, TX - Destination: SGR, HOUSTON, TX - Airport: SGR, Sugar Land Muni/Hull Field, runway 17, 8,000 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 44; injuries: none; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review February 14, 2003; seat: rear; flight hours: 17,500 total, 150 in this make and model, 15,700 as pilot in command, 250 in the last 90 days, 85 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 59 °F - Altimeter: 29.85 inHg - Observed at: SGR ## 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 20030426036859A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030426036859A), Apr 26, 2003: Boeing A75N1, Houston, TX, Substantial damage. (-23) On April 26, 2003, at 1310 central daylight time, a Boeing A75N1 airplane, N55133, owned and operated by classic planes inc. of spring, Texas, sustained… ## Other investigations on N55133 (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 FTW94LA054](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW94LA054), Dec 19, 1993: Boeing A75N1 (N55133), Madisonville, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT'S CONTINUED FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER. FACTORS WERE WEATHER CONDITIONS AND COLLISION WITH A SIGN. 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.