# NTSB SEA97LA081: North American NA-265-40, N123CD, Hailey, ID, March 20, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 20, 1997, 07:16 local (14:16 UTC) - Place: Hailey, ID - Coordinates: 43.570129, -114.210609 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.5701&lon=-114.2106&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 29, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 42579 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA97LA081 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/42579/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA97LA081 ## Probable cause an electrical short in the electrical system, which resulted in a malfunction of the nosewheel steering system and loss of directional control. ## 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 - electrical system - shorted (cause) - landing gear,steering system - malfunction (cause) - directional control - not maintained - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - snowbank ## Analysis The pilot reported that during the landing roll, the thrust reversers were deployed, and the airplane began to slowly veer to the left. The pilot applied rudder control to correct the situation; however, the airplane continued to the left. The pilot stated that he then applied hard right braking action. When the airplane slowed to below 60 knots, the pilot centered the rudder and tried twice to engage the nosewheel steering and then the standby steering system. Neither system seemed to engage, and the airplane continued off the side of the runway and collided with a runway marker and a snowbank. The nose gear collapsed, and the airplane came to rest off the runway. Postaccident investigation of the electrical system revealed a short to the command potentiometer, which affected the primary and standby nosewheel steering systems. ## Factual narrative On March 20, 1997, at 0716 mountain standard time, the pilot of a North American NA-265-40, N123CD, operated by Southwest Jet as a 14 CFR Part 91 business flight, was unable to maintain directional control of the airplane during the landing roll at the Friedman Memorial airport, Hailey, Idaho. The airplane swerved to the left and collided with a snowbank off the side of the runway. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and an instrument flight rules flight plan was filed. The airplane was substantially damaged; both airline transport pilots and their one passenger were not injured. The flight had originated from Kansas City, MO, about two hours and thirty minutes before the accident. In a written statement, the pilot-in-command reported that the approach for landing was normal. The airplane touched down approximately 1,000 feet down the runway on the centerline. The pilot stated that during the landing roll, the thrust reversers were deployed and the airplane began to slowly veer to the left. The pilot applied right rudder control and right braking action, however, the airplane continued to the left. The pilot applied "hard" right braking action which had no effect. The pilot stated that he re-stowed the thrust reversers and continued to apply right braking action which seemed to have some affect. The speed had decreased to 60 knots at this time and the pilot centered the rudder and tried two times to engage the nosewheel steering. The nosewheel steering would not engage, so the pilot selected standby steering, it did not automatically "fall down" like it should, and the airplane continued to travel off the side of the runway, colliding with a runway marker and subsequently a snowbank. The nose gear collapsed and the airplane came to rest off the west side of the runway. Inspection of the nose wheel steering system identified a short in the wiring to the command potentiometer, which affected the primary and standby nose wheel steering systems. The National Transportation Safety Board was not notified of the structural damage to the airplane until March 31, 1997. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N123CD](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N123CD-2018-01-11), registration cancelled 2018-01-11, S/N 282-23, built 1964 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: North American NA-265-40 - Registry model: [North American NA-265-40](https://openairdocs.org/model/north-american-na-265-40) (registry code 6402608) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney JT12A-6 6A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-jt12a-6-6a) (registry code 52042, turbo-jet) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 282-23 - Airframe hours: 8393 - Engines: P&W JT12A-8 3300 lbs thrust turbo jet - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Operator: Southwest Jet - Registered owner: M.E. Capitol Corp - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, February 16, 1995, 76 hours before - Departed: GVW, KANSAS CITY, MO - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: SUN, Friedman Memorial, runway 31, 6,602 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 43; airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 6,000 total, 126 in this make and model, 5,600 as pilot in command, 130 in the last 90 days, 34 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 340° at 8 knots - Visibility: 30 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 9,000 ft broken - Temperature: 28 °F, dew point 16 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: SUN ## 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 19970320003349A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970320003349A), Mar 20, 1997: Rkwell NA26540, Hailey, ID, Substantial damage. Aircraft lost directional control, ran off end of runway and struck a snowbank 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. --- 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.