- Date
- July 31, 2004, 16:30 local (21:30 UTC)
- Place
- Bay City, TX
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N75272Boeing A75N1
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 29, 2004
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- FAA report
- 20040731016059A
- Case key
- 59786
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing. A contributing factor was the pilot's decision to land with a quartering tailwind.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The 1,133-hour pilot reported that during the landing roll on runway 31, the airplane started to veer to the left. Subsequently, the airplane exited the runway to the right, nosed over, and came to rest in a nose low attitude. The wind reported at the airport approximately five minutes before the accident was from 160 at 7 knots.
Factual narrative
On July 31, 2004, approximately 1602 central daylight time, a Boeing A75N1 tailwheel equipped single-engine airplane, N75272, was substantially damaged during landing roll following a loss of control at the Bay City Municipal Airplane (BYY), near Bay City, Texas. The private pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, was not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by Eastex Flet Service Inc., of Friendswood, Texas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The cross-country flight originated from Pearland Regional Airport (LVJ) at 1500.
The 1,133-hour pilot reported in the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2) that he was unable to obtain and airport advisory on 122.8 megahertz. As he over flew the airport, he noted the windsock indicated a direct crosswind for runway 31 (a 5,107-foot long by 75-foot wide asphalt runway). Upon touching down on runway 31, the airplane started to veer to the left. The pilot stated he added full right rudder, but was unable to keep the airplane from exiting the left side of the runway. Subsequently, the airplane nosed over and came to rest nose low approximately 100 feet right of the runway centerline.
Examination of the airplane by an Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed the right main landing gear was separated. The right lower wing spar was cracked inboard of the wing strut.
At 1625, the Automated Weather Observing System (AWOS) at BYY, reported wind from 160 at 7 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, scattered clouds at 4,400 feet mean sea level, temperature 90 degrees Fahrenheit, dew point 75 degrees Fahrenheit, and an altimeter setting of 29.87 inches of Mercury.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N75272
- Reported as
- Boeing A75N1
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 75-8111
- Airframe hours
- 7,107.1
- Engine
- Continental W 670 6N, 220 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Cary T. Wilson
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal; Standard, Aerobatic
- Last inspection
- Annual · March 31, 2004 · 338 hours before
- Departed
- LVJ · Houston, TX
- Destination
- Bay City, TX
- Airport
- BYY · Bay City Municipal Airport, runway 31, 5,107 × 75 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 50
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Last flight review
- January 11, 2004
- Seat
- Rear
- Flight hours
- 1,133 total · 106 in this make and model · 1,133 as pilot in command · 9 in the last 90 days · 4 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 160° at 7 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 90 °F, dew point 75 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.87 inHg
- Observed at
- BYY
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N75272 · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.