# NTSB GAA16CA249: Boeing B75, N61445, El Cajon, CA, May 20, 2016

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: May 20, 2016, 13:10 local (20:10 UTC)
- Place: El Cajon, CA
- Coordinates: 32.82722, -116.972778 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.8272&lon=-116.9728&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: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 25, 2016
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 93221
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA16CA249
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/93221/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93221
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA249

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll in gusty crosswind conditions, which resulted in a runway excursion and nose over.

## 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: [Boeing B75, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=1380116), [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: [Boeing B75, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=1380116), [All aircraft, 9,308 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Ability to respond/compensate; cases with it: [Boeing B75, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=1380116), [All aircraft, 1,014 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md)
- [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Ability to respond/compensate; cases with it: [Boeing B75, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=1380116), [All aircraft, 1,201 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Boeing B75, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=1380116), [All aircraft, 1,130 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Boeing B75, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=1380116), [All aircraft, 4,590 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Boeing B75, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=1380116), [All aircraft, 1,514 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Boeing B75, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=1380116), [All aircraft, 3,656 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Boeing B75, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=1380116), [All aircraft, 2,289 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Boeing B75, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=1380116), [All aircraft, 10,154 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot of a tailwheel equipped airplane reported that during landing touchdown, with gusty crosswind conditions, the left wing lifted and the right wing dragged on the runway. Subsequently, the airplane veered off the runway to the right into a ditch and nosed over. The vertical stabilizer and both wings sustained substantial damage. The pilot did not report any mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Factual narrative

The pilot of a tailwheel equipped airplane reported that during landing touchdown, with gusty crosswind conditions, the left wing lifted and the right wing dragged on the runway. Subsequently, the airplane veered off the runway to the right into a ditch and nosed over. The vertical stabilizer and both wings sustained substantial damage. The pilot did not report any mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N61445](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N61445-2022-08-15), registration cancelled 2022-08-15, S/N 75-1335, built 1941 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BOEING B75 (UNDESIGNAT)
- Registry model: [Boeing B75](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-b75) (registry code 1380116) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R-985 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r-985-series) (registry code 52008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 75-1335
- Year built: 1941
- Engines: Pratt & Whitney R-985 450 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Aerobatic
- Last inspection: 100 hour, February 1, 2016
- Departed: SEE, El Cajon, CA
- Destination: SEE, SAN DIEGO/EL CAJON, CA
- Airport: SEE, Gillespie Field, runway 27L, 2,738 × 60 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Satellite tracking device, Handheld GPS, Electronic flight bag or handheld device

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 42; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review August 27, 2014; seat: rear; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 858 total, 301 in this make and model, 30 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 230° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter: 29.89 inHg
- Observed at: KSEE

## 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 20160520012269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160520012269A), May 20, 2016: Boeing B75, El Cajon, CA, Substantial damage. Aircraft landed on rwy 27L, as aircraft was rolling out, pilot encountered a crosswind which caused aircraft to veered off midfield into a large ditch which…

## Other investigations on N61445 (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 WPR20LA226](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR20LA226), Jul 5, 2020: Boeing B75 (N61445), Chino, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll.

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 14, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93221. 1.1 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 423 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40442267&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF
- Accident Photo (Courtesy of FAA) (item 2, .PDF, 1 photo, 661 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40442268&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photo%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-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.

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