# NTSB MIA01LA124: North American AT-6D, N1364N, Destin, FL, April 17, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 17, 2001, 09:45 local (14:45 UTC) - Place: Destin, FL - Location: 30.4001° N, 86.4715° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at DESTIN EXEC (DTS), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.4001&lon=-86.4715&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 30, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 52089 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA01LA124 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/52089/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA01LA124 ## Probable cause failure of the flight instructor to maintain directional control of the aircraft during the landing rollout while landing with a crosswind in gusty conditions, which resulted in a ground swerve, and the aircraft exiting the runway and incurring substantial damage when it became stuck in sand. ## 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 - weather condition - gusts - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - weather condition - crosswind - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command(cfi) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - loose gravel/sandy ## Analysis The flight instructor stated that during the approach to land, just prior to touchdown with the main landing gear, he encountered wind gusts. He said as the tail of the aircraft began to settle, he encountered a gust from the right front quarter, and the aircraft weather vaned to the right. He said that he applied corrective control input but insufficient control authority was available to arrest the excursion, and the aircraft exited the runway to the right, into loose sand, resulting in substantial damage to the aircraft. He further stated that prior to the accident there had been no malfunction or failure to the aircraft, or any of its systems. ## Factual narrative On April 17, 2001, about 0945 central daylight time, a North American AT-6D, N1364N, registered to T-6 Warbirds Inc., and operated by North American Top-Gun Inc., as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight, ran off the runway while landing at Destin, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft incurred substantial damage, and the commercial-rated pilot, and dual student were not injured. The flight originated from Destin, Florida, the same day, about 0915. The flight instructor stated that after a 30-minute familiarization flight, he demonstrated a touch-and-go landing without incident, and remained in the traffic pattern with the intent of performing a full stop landing. He said that his approach to land was normal, but just prior to touchdown with the main landing gear, he encountered wind gusts. He said as the tail of the aircraft began to settle, he encountered a gust from the right front quarter, and the aircraft weather vaned to the right. He said that he applied corrective control input, but insufficient control authority was available to arrest the excursion, and the aircraft exited the runway to the right, into loose sand, resulting in substantial damage to the aircraft. The instructor further stated that prior to the accident there had been no malfunction or failure to the aircraft, or any of its systems. ## Aircraft - Registration: N1364N (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: North American AT-6D - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 53418 - Airframe hours: 11583 - Engines: P&W R-1340 600 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: North American-Top Gun Inc. - Registered owner: T-6 Warbirds Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, March 16, 2001, 64 hours before - Departed: DTS, Destin, FL - Airport: DTS, Destin-Ft. Walton Beach, runway 32, 4,999 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 39; injuries: none; airline transport; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review August 1, 2000; seat: rear; flight hours: 1,988 total, 297 in this make and model, 1,288 as pilot in command, 209 in the last 90 days, 91 in the last 30 days, 8 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 52; injuries: none; flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 350° at 15 knots, gusting 20 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 30.12 inHg - Observed at: DTS ## 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 20010417008989A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010417008989A), Apr 17, 2001: Namer AT6D, Destin, FL, Substantial damage. (-23)Pilot stated: upon landing (gusting winds) aircraft lost directional control main gear torn off, wing damage, prop damage. (.19)on April 17, 2001, about… 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.