# NTSB LAX05LA037: Great Lakes 2T-1A, N502GL, San Diego, CA, November 13, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 13, 2004, 14:30 local (22:30 UTC) - Place: San Diego, CA - Coordinates: 32.799999, -116.966667 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.8000&lon=-116.9667&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 28, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 60585 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX05LA037 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/60585/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX05LA037 ## Probable cause the flight instructor's failure to maintain directional control during the landing rollout. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - ground loop/swerve - encountered, pilot in command(cfi) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - runway ## Analysis On the landing rollout the airplane ground looped. The certified flight instructor (CFI) reported that he was demonstrating a forward slip to lose altitude for landing. As the airplane was rolling out, he attempted to slow down by adding light pressure on both heel brakes. The airplane began a right turn, and he counteracted with additional pressure on the left brake, but there was no response. The airplane swerved off the runway and ground looped. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the airplane's brake system. When he depressed the brakes he found them a little spongy but completely operational. ## Factual narrative On November 13, 2004, at 1430 Pacific standard time, a Great Lakes 2T-1A, N502GL, ground looped on the landing rollout on runway 28L at Montgomery Field Airport (MYF), San Diego, California. Associated Aircraft, Inc., operated the airplane as an instructional flight under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The certified flight instructor (CFI) and student pilot were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local area instructional flight that departed MYF at 0900. A stop was made at Borrego Valley Airport (L08), Borrego Springs, California. The flight departed L08 for Montgomery at 1335. The flight was destined for Montgomery Field. According to the CFI, the purpose of the flight was to provide a conventional gear airplane checkout for the private pilot. They encountered no discrepancies with the flight until the landing rollout at MYF. The CFI reported that on approach he took the flight controls to demonstrate a forward slip to lose altitude. He indicated that this was a normal approach as the airplane is not equipped with flaps. He made a normal three-point landing, and as the airplane was rolling out straight with the control stick full back, he attempted to slow down with light pressure on both heel brakes. The airplane started a right turn, and he counteracted with the left brake; however, there was no response. The airplane swerved off the runway and ground looped to the right. The lower left wing contacted the ground, and the airplane came to rest on its nose. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector examined the airplane's brake system and found that the brakes were a little "spongy" when he depressed them, but functioned normally. There were no further mechanical discrepancies noted. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N502GL](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N502GL), registered now, S/N 0502, built 1973 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Great Lakes 2T-1A - Registry model: [Great Lakes 2T-1A](https://openairdocs.org/model/great-lakes-2t-1a) (registry code 3910106) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 0502 - Airframe hours: 1608.41 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-E2A 140 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Associated Aircraft, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Aerobatic - Last inspection: Annual, April 1, 2004, 40.41 hours before - Departed: L08, Borrego Springs, CA - Destination: MYF, San Diego, CA - Airport: MYF, Montgomery Field, runway 28L, 3,401 × 60 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 71; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3; last flight review January 1, 2004; seat: front; flight hours: 5,522 total, 320 in this make and model, 4,779 as pilot in command, 16 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 70; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3; last flight review August 1, 2004; seat: rear; flight hours: 811 total, 7 in this make and model, 535 as pilot in command, 13 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 29.90 inHg - Observed at: MYF ## 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 20041113030739A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20041113030739A), Nov 13, 2004: Grtlks 2T1A, San Diego, CA, Substantial damage. (-23) On November 13, 2004, at 1418 PST, N502GL a model 2T-1A great lakes aircraft ground looped during landing rollout runway 28L, Montgomery airfield, San… ## Other investigations on N502GL (3) 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 WPR12CA007](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR12CA007), Oct 13, 2011: Great Lakes 2T-1A (N502GL), San Diego, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's excessive brake application during landing. - [NTSB LAX02LA080](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX02LA080), Feb 9, 2002: Great Lakes 2T-1A-1 (N502GL), San Diego, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot failed to maintain directional control after encountering a gust of wind during the landing roll. Factors were the unexpected wind gusts and the soft terrain adjacent to the runway. - [NTSB LAX75FUM03](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX75FUM03), Aug 10, 1974: GR Lakes 2T-1A (N502GL), Holtville, CA, substantial damage 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.