# NTSB LAX08CA095: Curtiss-Wright Travel Air 4000, N4418, Carlsbad, CA, April 9, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: April 9, 2008, 12:31 local (19:31 UTC) - Place: Carlsbad, CA - Coordinates: 32.789756, -116.960517 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.7898&lon=-116.9605&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: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 28, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 67798 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX08CA095 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/67798/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX08CA095 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate crosswind compensation and failure to maintain directional control during landing rollout. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Not specified; cases with it: [Curtiss Wright TRAVEL AIR 4000, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=2621802), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: crosswind correction](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062030): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Curtiss Wright TRAVEL AIR 4000, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062030/cases.md?model=2621802), [All aircraft, 184 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062030/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Curtiss Wright TRAVEL AIR 4000, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2621802), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Action: lack of action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot; cases with it: [Curtiss Wright TRAVEL AIR 4000, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md?model=2621802), [All aircraft, 792 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/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: [Curtiss Wright TRAVEL AIR 4000, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2621802), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Curtiss Wright TRAVEL AIR 4000, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2621802), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis Following an uneventful commercial air tour sightseeing flight in the 1928 model biplane, the pilot returned to the departure airport and prepared for landing on runway 24. The pilot stated that during his approach, air traffic control tower personal reported that the wind was from 180 degrees at 5 knots. The pilot compensated for the wind by initiating a crab, and he landed on the runway. During the landing rollout the pilot lost directional control of the airplane. The airplane's lower right wing impacted the runway as the airplane suddenly reversed direction and ground looped to a stop. ## Factual narrative Following an uneventful commercial air tour sightseeing flight in the 1928 model biplane, the pilot returned to the departure airport and prepared for landing on runway 24. The pilot stated that during his approach, air traffic control tower personnel reported that the wind was from 180 degrees at 5 knots. The pilot stated that he compensated for the wind by initiating a crab, and he landed on the runway. During the landing rollout, the airplane's lower right wing impacted the runway. The airplane suddenly reversed direction and ground looped to a stop. On April 30, 2008, the operator's Director of Maintenance reported to the National Transportation Safety Board investigator that he had inspected the accident airplane and found no evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunction. He reported that, during the ground loop event, three of the lower right wing's ribs were cracked, and its front and rear spars were broken. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4418](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4418), registered now, S/N 378, built 1928 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Curtiss-Wright Travel Air 4000 - Registry model: [Curtiss Wright TRAVEL AIR 4000](https://openairdocs.org/model/curtiss-wright-travel-air-4000) (registry code 2621802) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Wright CURTISS OX5](https://openairdocs.org/engine/wright-curtiss-ox5) (registry code 67002, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 378 - Engines: Wright R760-8 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Other work use, Part 91 - Operator: Barnstormng Adventures - Registered owner: Daniels Aviation, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: CRQ, Carlsbad, CA - Destination: CRQ, Carlsbad, CA - Airport: CRQ, McClellan-Palomar, runway 24, 4,897 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 55; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2; flight hours: 2,722 total, 117 in this make and model, 38 in the last 90 days, 23 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 29.96 inHg - Observed at: CRQ ## 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 20080409832539A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080409832539A), Apr 9, 2008: Curtis TRVAIR4000, Carlsbad, CA, Substantial damage. (-23) While landing at palomar airport Carlsbad California a curtiss wright travel air 4000 N4418, the pilot lost control of the aircraft and ground looped the… ## Other investigations on N4418 (1) 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 WPR09CA429](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09CA429), Aug 30, 2009: Curtiss Wright Travel AIR (N4418), San Diego, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll in crosswind conditions. 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.