# NTSB SEA03LA062: Curtiss-Wright Travel Air C-4000, N6298, Florence, OR, April 12, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 11, 2003, 17:30 local (Apr 12, 2003, 00:30 UTC) - Place: Florence, OR - Coordinates: 43.978332, -124.108329 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.9783&lon=-124.1083&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 30, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA-FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 56832 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA03LA062 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/56832/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA03LA062 ## Probable cause Pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll. Factors include rough terrain. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor) - Nose down, landing - roll - landing gear,main gear - overload ## Analysis The commercial pilot reported that shortly after touchdown, in conjunction with the tail wheel touching down, the airplane started drifting to the right. The pilot stated that the airplane continued to track to the right, ultimately exiting the runway edge. After exiting the runway, the airplane encountered rough terrain and the right main gear collapsed. In a subsequent written statement, the pilot reported that the tail wheel was possibly not centered when the airplane touched down, and that he was unable to recover before the airplane exited the runway. ## Factual narrative On April 11, 2003, about 1730 Pacific daylight time, a Curtiss-Wright Travel Air C-4000 airplane, N6298, sustained substantial damage during landing at Florence Municipal Airport, Florence Oregon. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country flight under Title 14 CFR, Part 91, when the accident occurred. The commercial pilot and passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated from Sun River, Oregon, approximately two hours prior to the accident. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on April 16, the pilot reported that shortly after touchdown, in conjunction with the tail wheel touching down, the airplane started drifting to the right. The pilot stated that the airplane continued to track to the right, ultimately exiting the runway edge. After exiting the runway, the airplane encountered rough terrain and the right main gear collapsed. In a written statement dated April 24, 2003, the pilot reported that he believed the tail wheel was not centered when the airplane touched down, and added that he was unable to recover before the airplane exited the runway. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6298](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6298), registered now, S/N 745, built 1929 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Curtiss-Wright Travel Air C-4000 - Registry model: [Curtiss Wright TRAVEL AIR C-4000](https://openairdocs.org/model/curtiss-wright-travel-air-c-4000) (registry code 2621806) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental W670 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-w670-series) (registry code 17018, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 745 - Engines: Continental W-670 220 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: William R. Kirk - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 15, 2003 - Departed: S21, SUNRIVER, OR - Destination: 6S2, Florence, OR - Airport: 6S2, Florence Muni, runway 33, 3,000 × 60 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 66; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review December 1, 2001; seat: front; flight hours: 5,000 total, 30 in this make and model, 65 in the last 90 days, 40 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none ## 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 20030411004939A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030411004939A), Apr 11, 2003: Curtis TRVAIRC4000, Florence, OR, Substantial damage. (-23) On landing at 6S2, tail wheel was perpendicular to center position. When tail wheel contacted ground surface, aircraft veered right off runway and lifted… ## Other investigations on N6298 (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 SEA06LA169](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA06LA169), Aug 27, 2006: Curtiss-Wright Travel Air C-4000 (N6298), Elmira, OR, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain an airspeed above stall speed (Vs) while turning to avoid trees along the side of the runway during the initial climbout after takeoff. Factors include, a variable… 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.