# NTSB NYC94LA009: North American SNJ-2, N61563, Skaneateles, NY, October 15, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 15, 1993, 10:30 local (14:30 UTC) - Place: Skaneateles, NY - Coordinates: 42.999191, -76.450561 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.9992&lon=-76.4506&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal - Status: Completed, report September 13, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 38700 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC94LA009 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38700/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC94LA009 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate preflight preparation which failed to adequately secure cargo, resulting control interference. A factor was the overgross weight condition of the airplane. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, cruise - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - security of cargo - not performed, pilot in command (cause) - flight control system - movement restricted (contributing factor) - aircraft weight and balance - exceeded, pilot in command (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - terrain condition - open field - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command ## Analysis THE PILOT DEPARTED ON A CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT IN HIS WORLD WAR II VINTAGE AIRPLANE, ABOUT 360 POUNDS OVER THE MAXIMUM GROSS TAKE-OFF WEIGHT. APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES AFTER TAKEOFF, THE AIRPLANE WAS OBSERVED, BY WITNESSES, FLYING IN A NORTHEASTERLY DIRECTION TOWARD THE DEPARTURE AIRPORT. THE AIRPLANE BEGAN DESCENDING RIGHT TURNS, AND ESTABLISHED A FINAL APPROACH TO A HAY FIELD. DURING THE DESCENT THE LANDING GEAR WAS EXTENDED. THE AIRPLANE WAS ON SHORT FINAL WHEN IT MADE A RIGHT TURN, NOSED OVER, AND IMPACTED THE GROUND. THE EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION. FIVE TRACTOR BATTERIES AND TWO BRIEF CASES WERE FOUND UNSECURED IN THE AIRPLANE. ONE BRIEF CASE TOP WAS CRUSHED NEAR THE CASE HANDLE, AND WAS FOUND ON THE REAR FLOOR, BETWEEN THE REAR FLIGHT CONTROL AND THE LEFT REAR RUDDER PEDAL. ## Factual narrative On Friday, October 15, 1993, about 1030 eastern daylight time, a North American SNJ-2, N61563, piloted by Donald J. Anklin, was substantially damaged during a forced landing, 7 miles southwest of the Skaneateles Airport, Skaneateles, New York. The pilot was fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed for the flight operating under 14 CFR 91. The pilot departed the Skaneateles Airport, about 1000, on a ferry flight to Charlotte, North Carolina. The airplane was topped off with fuel prior to take off. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector stated in a telephone interview, a witness stated to him, "...the airplane was on final to the corn field, the pilot tried a hard turn to make a grass field. The airplane nosed over and impacted in the corn field. A witness, Mr. Craig Gilmore, stated: "...At...1025...I saw the plane coming from the southwest...As the plane flew over...[it] was approximately 200 ft [feet]...The plane continued northeast...then turned...The plane flew east for a short time and then began to bank toward the south. While he was in this turn I saw the plane's wheels come down...he began to drop lower and I could tell he was setting himself up to land in Young's hay field. The plane continued south west for a short time, and then just nosed over and hit the ground...I would like to state that I did not see or hear any problems with the plane prior to the crash." Examination of the wreckage by Federal Aviation Administration Inspectors revealed fuel in the carburetor, and one propeller blade was bent toward the fuselage while the other blade was undamaged. Five tractor batteries, weighing about 50 pounds each, and two brief cases were found unsecured in the airplane. One of the FAA Inspectors stated, "...One brief case top [was] crushed near the brief case handle and laid on the rear floor between the rear flight control and left rudder pedal." The main gear was extended at the time of impact and the flaps were down. A post accident examination of the engine was conducted by the FAA Inspector. In his report he stated that, "The components inspected did not show probable cause for engine failure." According to the Aviation Consumer, Used Aircraft Guide, a typical empty weight for the SNJ is 4800 pounds, with a maximum gross weight of 6000 pounds. The fuel consumption is listed at 28 to 30 gallons per hour (GPH). The Guide also reports, "Stall characteristics will shock the average lightplane pilot accustomed to plenty of pre-stall buffet...The T-6 stall, which occurs at around 70 mph at gross weight, comes with virtually no warning buffer. (There's no stall horn or light, of course.) "It just happens, reports one veteran T-6 pilot"." The estimated take off weight of N61563, using the typical empty weight of 4800 pounds, 190 gallons of fuel, the 170 pound pilot, and the tractor batteries, was 6360 pounds. After 30 minutes of flying at 30 GPH, the estimated weight of the airplane at the time of the accident was 6270 pounds. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N61563](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N61563), registered now, S/N 2025, built 1940 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: NORTH AMERICAN SNJ-2 - Registry model: [North American SNJ-2](https://openairdocs.org/model/north-american-snj-2) (registry code 6400404) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R1340 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r1340-series) (registry code 52016, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 2025 - Airframe hours: 4253 - Engines: P&W R-1340-AN1 650 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Ferry, Part 91 - Operator: Donald Anklin - Registered owner: National Diversified Svc, Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, August 1, 1993, 36 hours before - Destination: CLT, CHARLOTTE, NC - Airport: 6B9, Skaneatles ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine sea, single-engine sea, multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; toxicology performed; flight hours: 13,000 total, 3,000 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 90° at 5 knots - Visibility: 5 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 48 °F - Observed at: SYR, 18 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 19931015039419A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19931015039419A), Oct 15, 1993: Namer SNJ2, Skaneateles, NY, Substantial damage, 1 fatal. Observed returning to airport. Lost control. Nosed over prior impact. Over gross. Failed to secure 5 battery cargo. ## Other investigations on N61563 (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 LAX84LA009](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX84LA009), Oct 9, 1983: North American SNJ-2 (N61563), Fresno, CA, substantial damage 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.