# NTSB SEA08CA215: North American AT-6, N39313, Arlington, WA, October 1, 2008

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: September 30, 2008, 17:05 local (Oct 1, 2008, 00:05 UTC)
- Place: Arlington, WA
- Coordinates: 48.160556, -122.158889 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.1606&lon=-122.1589&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 10, 2008
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 69218
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA08CA215
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/69218/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA08CA215

## Probable cause

The front seated pilot's inadequate compensation for the right quartering tailwind and failure to maintain directional control. Also causal was the rear seated pilot's inadequate remedial action and failure to regain directional control.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [North American AT-6, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=6400402), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md)
- [Wind: tailwind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [North American AT-6, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md?model=6400402), [All aircraft, 594 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md)
- [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Ability to respond/compensate (probable cause); cases with it: [North American AT-6, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=6400402), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md)
- [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [North American AT-6, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=6400402), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [North American AT-6, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=6400402), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [North American AT-6, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=6400402), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md)
- [Landing-aborted after touchdown: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [North American AT-6, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=6400402), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The purpose of the flight was to re-familiarize the front seat pilot, who was a perspective buyer, with the tailwheel-equipped airplane. The owner of the airplane, who was also a rated pilot, occupied the rear seat. During the landing roll on runway 16, the front seat pilot noted that the airplane started to veer to the right. The rear seat pilot took control of the airplane and added power attempting to go-around. The airplane exited the runway as it continued to veer to the right and became airborne after striking a knoll adjacent to the runway. Subsequently, the left wing struck the ground and the airplane landed hard and impacted the concrete windsock segmented circle. Examination of the airplane revealed that the fuselage and wings were structurally damaged. The rear seat pilot reported no anomalies with the flight control system or engine. Recorded weather data revealed that 12 minutes prior to the accident, the wind was from 330-degrees at 5 knots.

## Factual narrative

The purpose of the flight was to re-familiarize the front seat pilot, who was a perspective buyer, with the tailwheel-equipped airplane. The owner of the airplane, who was also a rated pilot, occupied the rear seat. During the landing roll on runway 16, the front seat pilot noted that the airplane started to veer to the right. The rear seat pilot took control of the airplane and added power attempting to go-around. The airplane exited the runway as it continued to veer to the right and became airborne after striking a knoll adjacent to the runway. Subsequently, the left wing struck the ground and the airplane landed hard and impacted the concrete windsock segmented circle. Examination of the airplane revealed that the fuselage and wings were structurally damaged. The rear seat pilot reported no anomalies with the flight control system or engine. Recorded weather data revealed that 12 minutes prior to the accident, the wind was from 330-degrees at 5 knots. As of October 27, 2008, no Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1) was received from either pilot. However, both pilots submitted written statement to the Federal Aviation Administration.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N39313](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N39313), registered now, S/N 91074 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: NORTH AMERICAN AT-6
- Registry model: [North American AT-6](https://openairdocs.org/model/north-american-at-6) (registry code 6400402) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 91074
- Engines: Pratt & Whitney R-1340 550 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Peter Jonathan Houghton
- Registered owner: Air Station
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: AWO, Arlington, WA
- Destination: AWO, Arlington, WA
- Airport: AWO, Arlington Municipal Airport, runway 16, 5,332 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 39; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; medical: class 2, unknown; seat: rear; flight hours: 2,500 total, 250 in this make and model
- Other flight crew; age 66; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, unknown; seat: front; flight hours: 3,600 total, 1 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 330° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: AWO

## 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 20080930847919A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080930847919A), Sep 30, 2008: Namer AT6D, Arlington, WA, Substantial damage. On September 30, 2008 at approximately 1700 PDT, the north American AT-6 (N3913) piloted by [privacy data omitted] (back seat) and [privacy data omitted]…

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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