- Date
- December 17, 2003, 16:50 local (21:50 UTC)
- Place
- Marathon, FL
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N64JEWaco 4MF 5
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report March 2, 2004
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- FAA FSDO
- FAA report
- 20031217033429A
- Case key
- 58502
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's loss of directional control during landing rollout in a crosswind resulting in the airplane ground looping and incurring damage to the left wing.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot stated he departed from Marathon Airport at about 1620, and performed two full stop landings on runway 25. The winds were from the west-northwest at 15-20 knots. During the third landing while on landing roll, at about 10 mph, the tail wheel started to shimmy and the airplane began to turn into the wind. The airplane then continued around with the left wing tip contacting the runway. The airplane incurred damage to the left aileron and left outboard wing rib. The pilot inspected the airplane and then taxied back to the parking area. The pilot reported he had no mechanical difficulties with the airplane.
Factual narrative
On December 17, 2003, about 1650 eastern standard time, a Waco 4MF-5, N64JE, registered to TN Delaware Air Corp., and operated by a private individual, as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, ground looped during landing rollout on runway 25, at Marathon Airport, Marathon, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and the commercial rated pilot reported no injuries. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The flight originated from Marathon, the same day, at about 1620.
The pilot stated he departed from Marathon Airport at about 1620, and performed two full-stop landings on runway 25. The winds were from the west-northwest at 15-20 knots. During the third landing while on landing roll, at about 10 mph, the tail wheel started to shimmy and the airplane began to turn into the wind. The airplane then continued around with the left wing tip contacting the runway. The airplane incurred damage to the left aileron and left outboard wing rib. The pilot inspected the airplane and then taxied back to the parking area. The pilot reported he had no mechanical difficulties with the airplane.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N64JE
- Reported as
- Waco 4MF 5
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- F50022
- Airframe hours
- 1,360
- Engine
- Jacobs 755B, 275 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · November 1, 2003 · 24 hours before
- Departed
- MTH · Marathon, FL
- Destination
- MTH · Marathon, FL
- Airport
- MTH · Marathon, runway 25, 5,008 × 100 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 46
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine sea, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Rear
- Flight hours
- 1,565 total · 1,060 in this make and model · 1,380 as pilot in command · 65 in the last 90 days · 24 in the last 30 days · 3 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 330° at 19 knots, gusting 26
- Visibility
- 8 statute miles
- Temperature
- 66 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.09 inHg
- Observed at
- MTH, 1 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.
Other investigations on N64JE · 2
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.