# NTSB MIA04LA087: Curtiss-Wright Travel Air 4000, N6425, Port St. Lucie, FL, April 16, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 16, 2004, 19:00 local (23:00 UTC) - Place: Port St. Lucie, FL - Coordinates: 27.241945, -80.488891 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.2419&lon=-80.4889&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 31, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 59311 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA04LA087 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/59311/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA04LA087 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing, which resulted in an inadvertent swerve, the right main landing gear wheel separating, and the airplane impacting trees and incurring structural damage. ## 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 (cause) - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command - landing gear,wheel - separation - In flight collision with object, landing - roll - object - tree(s) ## Analysis The pilot stated that during rollout the "right wheel broke and directional control was impossible." He further stated that the airplane incurred damage to the lower right wing's three nose ribs, which needed to be replaced. The FAA did not respond to the scene, but two individuals who reside at the airport stated that they were at the scene they 'walked" the runway", and noted the marks made by the effect of landing gear. They said that there were no holes in the runway, and that they believed that the landing gear wheel broke from what appeared to be excessive side loads imposed during what appeared to be the beginning of a ground loop during the landing roll. ## Factual narrative On April 16, 2004, about 1900 eastern standard time, a Curtis-Wright Travel Air 4000, N6425, registered to and operated by a private individual, as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, incurred damage while landing at Treasure Coast Airpark, Port St. Lucie, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The airline transport-rated pilot and one passenger were not injured, and the airplane incurred substantial damage. The flight originated in Lakeland, Florida, the same day, about 1750. The pilot stated that during rollout the "right wheel broke and directional control was impossible." He further stated that the airplane incurred damage to the lower right wing's three nose ribs, which needed to be replaced. The FAA did not respond to the scene of the accident, however, two individuals who reside at the airport stated that they were at the scene of the accident, and they volunteered information to the NTSB. These individuals stated that they 'walked" the runway", and noted the marks made by the effect of landing gear on the grass, and that there were no holes in the runway. They further stated that they believed that the landing gear wheel broke from what appeared to be excessive side loads imposed during what appeared to be the beginning of a ground loop during the landing roll. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6425](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6425), registered now, S/N 766 (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) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 766 - Airframe hours: 2500 - Engines: Lycoming R680 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Frank L Boyce - Registered owner: John L Boyce - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 1, 2003, 25 hours before - Departed: LAL, Lakeland, FL - Destination: FL37, Port St. Lucie, FL - Airport: FL37, Treasure Coast Airpark, runway 27, 4,000 × 100 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 58; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; seat: rear; flight hours: 36,125 total, 100 in this make and model, 30,000 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: 60° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 30.27 inHg - Observed at: FPR ## 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 20040416032719A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040416032719A), Apr 16, 2004: Curtis TRVAIR4000, Fort Pierce, FL, Minor damage. (-23) On landing (sod runway) right wheel hit gopher hole, axle broke. ## Other investigations on N6425 (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 LAX00LA227](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX00LA227), Jun 14, 2000: Curtis-Wright Travel AIR 4000 (N6425), Reno, NV, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's improper bounced landing recovery technique and failure to maintain directional control in a quartering tailwind condition. 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.