# NTSB GAA16CA338: North American SNJ, N7980C, Jackson, MI, June 25, 2016 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 25, 2016, 16:15 local (20:15 UTC) - Place: Jackson, MI - Coordinates: 42.259166, -84.461669 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.2592&lon=-84.4617&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: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 22, 2016 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 93475 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA16CA338 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/93475/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93475 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA338 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll, which resulted in a runway excursion, right main landing gear collapse, and impact with the ground. ## 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: [North American SNJ-5, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=6400418), [All aircraft, 3,958 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: [North American SNJ-5, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=6400418), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Wind: variable wind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034025): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on equipment; cases with it: [North American SNJ-5, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034025/cases.md?model=6400418), [All aircraft, 113 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034025/cases.md) - [Wind: variable wind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034025): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Ability to respond/compensate; cases with it: [North American SNJ-5, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034025/cases.md?model=6400418), [All aircraft, 113 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034025/cases.md) - [Terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [North American SNJ-5, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000/cases.md?model=6400418), [All aircraft, 267 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [North American SNJ-5, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=6400418), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [North American SNJ-5, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=6400418), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [North American SNJ-5, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=6400418), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [North American SNJ-5, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=6400418), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [North American SNJ-5, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=6400418), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of a tailwheel equipped airplane reported that during the landing roll as the tailwheel came down, the left wing "rose up", and he attempted to correct with left aileron. The pilot further reported that the airplane started "yawing, sliding, and turning sideways on the pavement". The airplane veered off the runway to the left, the right main landing gear collapsed, and the airplane impacted the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. According to the pilot there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. A review of recorded data from the automated weather observation station located about 1 mile to the southwest, revealed that, about 19 minutes before the accident the wind was variable at 4 knots. The airplane landed on runway 24. ## Factual narrative The pilot of a tailwheel equipped airplane reported that during the landing roll as the tailwheel came down, the left wing "rose up", and he attempted to correct with left aileron. The pilot further reported that the airplane started "yawing, sliding, and turning sideways on the pavement". The airplane veered off the runway to the left, the right main landing gear collapsed, and the airplane impacted the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. According to the pilot there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. A review of recorded data from the automated weather observation station located about 1 mile to the southwest, revealed that, about 19 minutes before the accident the wind was variable at 4 knots. The airplane landed on runway 24. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7980C](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7980C-2016-10-19), registration cancelled 2016-10-19, S/N 43938, built 1943 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: NORTH AMERICAN SNJ (5) - Registry model: [North American SNJ-5](https://openairdocs.org/model/north-american-snj-5) (registry code 6400418) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R1340 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r1340-series) (registry code 52016, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 43938 - Year built: 1944 - Airframe hours: 7240.9 - Engines: P&W R1340-AN1 600 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 29, 2015 - Departed: OZW, HOWELL, MI - Destination: JXN, Jackson, MI - Airport: JXN, Jackson County-Reynolds Field, runway 24, 5,349 × 150 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Stall warning system, Handheld GPS ## 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 April 11, 2015; seat: front; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 18,249 total, 880 in this make and model, 16,377 as pilot in command, 22.7 in the last 90 days, 13.8 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 30.13 inHg - Observed at: KJXN, 1 nm away ## 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 20160625009879A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160625009879A), Jun 25, 2016: North American SNJ-5, Jackson, MI, Substantial damage. Returning home to Jackson, PIC said he checked ATIS and winds were variable at 4, he asked tower for a wind check while on final to runway 26 and they… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 12, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93475. 2.5 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40444360&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Accident Photo (Courtesy of FAA) (item 2, .PDF, 1 photo, 69 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40444361&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. --- 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.