# NTSB MIA97LA223: Boeing A75, N450HP, Dayton, TN, July 30, 1997

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 30, 1997, 18:45 local (22:45 UTC)
- Place: Dayton, TN
- Coordinates: 35.489349, -85.009773 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.4893&lon=-85.0098&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report February 2, 1998
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 38319
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA97LA223
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38319/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA97LA223

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control on landing rollout resulting in an inadvertent ground loop, and on-ground collision between the left wing and the runway. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's total lack of experience in kind of aircraft.

## 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)
  - lack of total experience in kind of aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - runway
  - wing,spar - fractured

## Analysis

The pilot stated he made a wheel landing. When the tail wheel touched down, he lost directional, ground looped the airplane, and the left wing collided with the runway. Review of the pilot's logbook revealed he had a total of 12.1 hours experience in the Boeing A75 airplane.

## Factual narrative

On July 30, 1997, about 1845 eastern daylight time, a Boeing A75, N450HP, registered to a private owner, operating as a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, crashed on landing at the Marc Anton Airport, Dayton, Tennessee. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The private pilot and one passenger reported no injuries. The flight originated from Mark Anton Airport about 45 minutes before the accident.

The pilot stated he made a wheel landing. When the tail wheel touched down, he lost directional control, ground looped the airplane, and the left wing collided with the runway. The pilot indicated on  the NTSB Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report that he had a total of 12.1 hours in the Boeing A75 airplane.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N450HP (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: Boeing A75
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 75-4000
- Airframe hours: 9198
- Engines: P&W R985-AN1 450 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Jeffrey R. Ellingham
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Aerobatic
- Last inspection: 100 hour, May 25, 1997, 21 hours before
- Departed: 2AO
- Airport: 2AO, Mark Anton, runway 3, 4,504 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 34; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: rear; flight hours: 202 total, 12 in this make and model, 160 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: variable at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 2,800 ft broken
- Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 73 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: CHA, 37 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19970730023539A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970730023539A), Jul 30, 1997: Boeing A75, Dayton, TN, Substantial damage. Made wheel landing. Lost control as tail came down. Ground looped. Wing hit runway. Low skill in tail dragger type. (-23) the pilot said that after landing,…

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.

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