# NTSB GAA16CA049: Curtiss Wright Travel Air, N9872, Carlsbad, CA, November 14, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: November 14, 2015, 14:46 local (22:46 UTC) - Place: Carlsbad, CA - Coordinates: 33.128334, -117.279998 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.1283&lon=-117.2800&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 14, 2016 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: Federal Aviation Admainistration - NTSB case key (mKey): 92329 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA16CA049 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/92329/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92329 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA049 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll, resulting in a ground-loop, and substantial damage to the right wing and wing strut. ## 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: [Curtiss Wright TRAVEL AIR B-4000, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2621804), [All aircraft, 3,969 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: [Curtiss Wright TRAVEL AIR B-4000, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2621804), [All aircraft, 9,308 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Curtiss Wright TRAVEL AIR B-4000, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2621804), [All aircraft, 4,590 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200); cases with it: [Curtiss Wright TRAVEL AIR B-4000, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md?model=2621804), [All aircraft, 618 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot of the tailwheel-equipped biplane, during the fourth landing roll of the day, the airplane "fish tailed" to the right and he was not able to maintain directional control. The airplane ground looped to the left on the runway, the right main landing gear collapsed and the lower right wing struck the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the lower right wing and wing strut. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or anomalies prior to or during the flight that would have prevented normal operation. ## Factual narrative According to the pilot of the tailwheel-equipped biplane, during the fourth landing roll of the day, the airplane "fish tailed" to the right and he was not able to maintain directional control. The airplane ground looped to the left on the runway, the right main landing gear collapsed and the lower right wing struck the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the lower right wing and wing strut. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or anomalies prior to or during the flight that would have prevented normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9872](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9872), registered now, S/N 1059, built 1929 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CURTISS WRIGHT Travel Air (B-4000) - Registry model: [Curtiss Wright TRAVEL AIR B-4000](https://openairdocs.org/model/curtiss-wright-travel-air-b-4000) (registry code 2621804) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental W670 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-w670-series) (registry code 17018, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1059 - Year built: 1929 - Airframe hours: 1131 - Engines: CONT MOTOR W670-6A 250 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Other work use, Part 91 - Operator: Fun Flights LLC - Registered owner: Fun Flights LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 1, 2015 - Departed: CRQ, CARLSBAD, CA - Destination: CRQ, Carlsbad, CA - Airport: CRQ, Mc Clellan-Palomar, runway 24, 4,897 × 150 ft, asphalt - Equipment: ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 68; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 27, 2015; seat: rear; restraint: 3-point; toxicology performed; flight hours: 4,656 total, 1,856 in this make and model, 3,700 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 17 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 29.88 inHg - Observed at: CRQ ## 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 20151114019889A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20151114019889A), Nov 14, 2015: Curtiss Wright TRAVEL AIR B-4000, Carlsbad, CA, Substantial damage. On 14 nov 2015 at 1446 the PIC of N9872 lost control during landing rollout at Palomar Airport (crq). It was the fourth flight of the day while landing on rwy… ## Other investigations on N9872 (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 LAX81FUG39](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX81FUG39), Jul 10, 1981: Curtis WRT. B-4000 (N9872), Chino, CA, substantial damage ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 5, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92329. 2.4 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40436468&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Photos (item 2, .PDF, 179 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40436469&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photos-Master.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.