# NTSB GAA16CA464: North American SNJ, N7296C, Perris, CA, September 3, 2016 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 3, 2016, 13:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: Perris, CA - Coordinates: 33.76361, -117.218612 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.7636&lon=-117.2186&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-aborted after touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 5, 2016 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 93953 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA16CA464 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/93953/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93953 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA464 ## Probable cause The pilot's inability to compensate for a dust devil during an aborted landing, which resulted in the left wing contacting the ground, a runway excursion, and the airplane coming to rest in a nose-down attitude. ## 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 · Attain/maintain not possible (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: dust devil/whirlwind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034060): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Ability to respond/compensate; cases with it: [North American SNJ-5, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034060/cases.md?model=6400418), [All aircraft, 38 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034060/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-aborted after touchdown: 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-aborted after touchdown: Dragged wing/rotor/float/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093); cases with it: [North American SNJ-5, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093/sequence.md?model=6400418), [All aircraft, 319 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093/sequence.md) - [Landing-aborted after touchdown: 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-aborted after touchdown: 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-aborted after touchdown: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [North American SNJ-5, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=6400418), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the tailwheel equipped airplane reported that during the landing roll out with the tailwheel down, the tail of the airplane lifted back into the air, at that time he attempted to abort the landing. The pilot further reported that when the airplane became airborne the left wing dropped, then the right, both of which he countered. Subsequently, the left wing dropped again and struck the ground. The airplane exited the runway to the left and came to rest on its nose. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and aileron. After the accident, witnesses reported to the pilot that a dust devil had touched down in front of the airplane during the landing. The pilot reported that there were no pre impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot of the tailwheel equipped airplane reported that during the landing roll out with the tailwheel down, the tail of the airplane lifted back into the air, at that time he attempted to abort the landing. The pilot further reported that when the airplane became airborne the left wing dropped, then the right, both of which he countered. Subsequently, the left wing dropped again and struck the ground. The airplane exited the runway to the left and came to rest on its nose. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and aileron. After the accident, witnesses reported to the pilot that a dust devil had touched down in front of the airplane during the landing. The pilot reported that there were no pre impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7296C](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7296C), registered now, S/N 84979 (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: 84979 - Year built: 1944 - Airframe hours: 5590 - Engines: P&W R1340 - AN1 600 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 19, 2016 - Departed: L65, Perris, CA - Destination: L65, Perris, CA - Airport: L65, Perris Valley, runway 15, 5,100 × 50 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 45; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review December 2, 2015; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 620 total, 53.4 in this make and model, 580 as pilot in command, 29.1 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 2 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 29.87 inHg - Observed at: KRIV, 8 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 20160903014939A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160903014939A), Sep 3, 2016: North American SNJ-5, Perris, CA, Substantial damage. Aircraft landed successfully on runway. Upon landing-rollout the aircraft momentarily became airborne then bounced (hard) on runway . Aircraft came to rest on… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 19, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93953. 3.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40445497&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Accident Photos (item 2, .PDF, 2 photos, 220 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40445498&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photos-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.