# NTSB GAA17CA504: Boeing E75, N4859N, Centerville, TN, August 18, 2017 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 18, 2017, 15:40 local (19:40 UTC) - Place: Centerville, TN - Coordinates: 35.838054, -87.445274 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.8381&lon=-87.4453&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: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 27, 2017 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 95872 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA17CA504 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/95872/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95872 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA504 ## Probable cause The pilot receiving instruction’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll and the flight instructor’s delayed remedial action. ## 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 E75, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=1380120), [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 · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Boeing E75, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=1380120), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Boeing E75, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=1380120), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/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: [Boeing E75, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=1380120), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Boeing E75, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=1380120), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) - [Landing: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Boeing E75, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=1380120), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot receiving instruction reported that, during the landing roll before stopping, the tailwheel-equipped biplane "made a sudden move to [the] left." He added that the flight instructor's quick reactions kept the biplane on the runway and going straight. The pilot then regained control of the biplane, and the left wing dropped and "despite corrective inputs on the controls would not respond to further control inputs," and the airplane then ground looped to the right. Subsequently, the left main landing gear collapsed, and the biplane came to rest nose down on the runway. The biplane sustained substantial damage to all four wings and fuselage. The pilot reported that "it was [his] personal contention and belief that the upper left gear failed[,] resulting in substantial damage to the [biplane] and the resultant ground loop." He added that "[he] did not believe that this particular incident could have been prevented." A review of a video of the accident showed, in part, a loss of control early in the landing roll, followed by a subsequent loss of control and ground loop to the right. ## Factual narrative The pilot, who was receiving instruction, reported that during the landing roll prior to stopping, the tailwheel-equipped biplane "made a sudden move to [the] left." He added that, quick reactions by the flight instructor kept the biplane on the runway and going straight. The biplane once again under the control of the pilot, then "dropped the left wing and despite corrective inputs on the controls would not respond to further control inputs" and ground looped to the right. Subsequently, the left main landing gear collapsed and the biplane came to rest nose down on the runway. The biplane sustained substantial damage to all four wings and fuselage. The pilot reported that, "it was [his] personal contention and belief that the upper left gear failed[,] resulting in substantial damage to the [biplane] and the resultant ground loop." He added that, "[he] did not believe that this particular incident could have been prevented." A review of a video of the accident that was submitted, showed in part a loss of control early in the landing roll, followed by a subsequent loss of control and ground loop to the right. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4859N](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4859N), registered now, S/N 75-5650, built 1944 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BOEING E75 (UNDESIGNAT) - Registry model: [Boeing E75](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-e75) (registry code 1380120) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming R680E series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-r680e-series) (registry code 41545, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 75-5650 - Year built: 1943 - Engines: Continental W670-6N 220 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, August 1, 2016 - Departed: GHM, Centerville, TN - Destination: GHM, Centerville, TN - Airport: GHM, Centerville Muni, runway 20, 4,002 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 55; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 2, 2016; seat: rear; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 305 total, 39 in this make and model, 180 as pilot in command, 27 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days - Flight instructor; age 55; injuries: none; flight instructor, flight engineer, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, multi-engine sea, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, waiver time limited special; last flight review April 3, 2016; seat: front; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 5,940 total, 209 in this make and model, 3,580 as pilot in command, 25 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 4 knots, gusting 11 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: KMRC, 21 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 20170818021769A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170818021769A), Aug 18, 2017: Boeing E75, Centerville, TN, Substantial damage. During flight instruction, student pilot had landed the aircraft and was on roll-out when he experienced light crosswinds causing the aircraft to drift off the… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 26, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95872. 1.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 851 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40457309&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Accident Photo (Courtesy of FAA) (item 2, .PDF, 1 photo, 282 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40457310&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.