# NTSB GAA18CA414: North American AT, N29963, Moneta, VA, July 5, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 5, 2018, 16:55 local (20:55 UTC) - Place: Moneta, VA - Coordinates: 37.107776, -79.592498 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.1078&lon=-79.5925&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 10, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 97744 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA18CA414 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/97744/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97744 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA414 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain a proper descent rate, which resulted in a bounced landing and his subsequent failure to maintain directional. ## 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 AT-6D, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=6400416), [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 AT-6D, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=6400416), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: descent rate](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [North American AT-6D, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037/cases.md?model=6400416), [All aircraft, 242 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [North American AT-6D, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md?model=6400416), [All aircraft, 933 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/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: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [North American AT-6D, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=6400416), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [North American AT-6D, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=6400416), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [North American AT-6D, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=6400416), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [North American AT-6D, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=6400416), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, during landing, he made a three-point touchdown, and the airplane bounced. Following the bounce, upon touchdown, the airplane veered sharply right and ground looped, the left landing gear collapsed, and the airplane impacted trees. The pilot added that the descent rate was higher than normal. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot of the tailwheel equipped airplane reported that during landing, the airplane had a three-point touchdown and bounced. Following the bounce, upon touchdown, the airplane veered sharply to the right, ground looped, the left landing gear collapsed, and the airplane impacted trees. The pilot added that his decent rate was higher than normal. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot did not submit the NTSB Form 6120.1 Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident Report. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N29963](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N29963), registered now, S/N 49-2977, built 1942 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: North American AT (6D) - Registry model: [North American AT-6D](https://openairdocs.org/model/north-american-at-6d) (registry code 6400416) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R1340 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r1340-series) (registry code 52016, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 49-2977 - Year built: 1942 - Engines: P&W R1340 SERIES 550 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: CJR, Culpeper, VA - Destination: W91, Moneta, VA - Airport: W91, Smith Mountain Lake, runway 05, 3,058 × 50 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 56; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 90° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 30.26 inHg - Observed at: KROA, 22 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 20180705009159A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180705009159A), Jul 5, 2018: North American AT-6D, Moneta, VA, Substantial damage. Pilot stated he conducted a normal 3 point landing on runway 05 at smith mountain lake airport (W91) when suddenly, after touchdown, the aircraft began a sharp… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 9, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97744. 427 KB in all. - Pilot Record of Conversation (item 1, .PDF, 64 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40471803&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Record%20of%20Conversation-Master.PDF - Accident Photos (item 2, .PDF, 2 photos, 363 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40471804&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.