# NTSB FTW83LA109: Swearingen SA-26T, N111PT, Houston, TX, February 11, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: February 11, 1983, 12:36 local (18:36 UTC)
- Place: Houston, TX
- Location: 29.6458° N, 95.2772° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at WILLIAM P HOBBY (HOU), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.6458&lon=-95.2772&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 20803
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW83LA109
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/20803/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW83LA109

## 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
  - planned approach - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - airspeed - excessive, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - landing gear,nose gear assembly - pressure too low (contributing factor)
  - landing gear,nose gear assembly - vibration (cause)
  - landing gear,nose gear assembly - jammed (cause)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - ground loop/swerve - uncontrolled, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Nose gear collapsed, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor)
  - landing gear,nose gear - overload (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PLT REPORTED THAT AFTER THE NOSEWHEEL TOUCHED DOWN, IT BEGAN A VIOLENT & UNCONTROLLABLE OSCILLATION, THEN LOCKED APRX 25 DEG TO THE LEFT. THE ACFT VEERED OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY, CROSSED AN AREA OF SOFT GROUND AND ANGLED ACROSS A TAXIWAY. AFTER CROSSING THE TAXIWAY, IT ENTERED ANOTHER AREA OF SOFT DIRT WHERE THE NOSE GEAR SEPARATED. AFTER COMING TO REST, THE PROPELLERS DUG HOLES IN THE SOFT GROUND BEFORE THE ENGINES WERE SHUT DOWN. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE TIRES LEFT BLACK SCRUB MARKS (800 FT LONG) BEFORE THE ACFT DEPARTED THE RUNWAY. LOW AIR PRESSURE WAS FOUND IN THE NOSE GEAR STRUT AND SHIMMY DAMPER. ACCORDING TO A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE MANUFACTURER, THIS LOW PRESSURE COULD CAUSE THE NOSE GEAR TO SHIMMY. PROPELLER STRIKE MARKS IN THE FIRST AREA OF SOFT GROUND INDICATED THE GROUND SPEED WAS 82 KTS WHERE THEY FIRST CONTACTED THE GROUND.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N111PT](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N111PT-1992-04-27), registration cancelled 1992-04-27, S/N T2615 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SWEARINGEN SA-26T
- Registry model: [Swearingen SA26-T](https://openairdocs.org/model/swearingen-sa26-t) (registry code 8780102) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 15
- Airframe hours: 5027
- Engines: P&W PT6A-20 turbo prop
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Registered owner: Herring Aircraft Venture
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: LRD, LAREDO, TX
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: HOU, Hobby, runway 13L, 7,600 × 150 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 49; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 9,455 total, 1,035 in this make and model, 9,200 as pilot in command, 135 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 70° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 2,500 ft overcast
- Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: HOU

## 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 19830211003529A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830211003529A), Feb 11, 1983: Swrngn SA26T, Houston, TX, Substantial damage. During landing nose wheel began a violent oscillation until it locked at a 25 degree angle and subsequently broke.

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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