# NTSB WPR09CA265: Boeing E75, N4787V, Cottonwood, AZ, May 17, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 17, 2009, 12:40 local (19:40 UTC) - Place: Cottonwood, AZ - Coordinates: 34.729999, -112.035278 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.7300&lon=-112.0353&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 August 13, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 73904 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR09CA265 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/73904/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73904 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09CA265 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate compensation for the crosswinds during the landing roll. ## 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: [Boeing E75, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=1380120), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Response/compensation (probable cause); cases with it: [Boeing E75, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=1380120), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Boeing E75, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=1380120), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Boeing E75, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=1380120), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/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: [Boeing E75, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=1380120), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Boeing E75, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=1380120), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane stated that during the landing roll the airplane began to drift to the left. The pilot applied right rudder and right aileron, and the airplane then encountered a gust of wind from the right. The left wing then struck the runway surface and the airplane departed the runway to the right, coming to rest in soft soil. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the lower wing spar during the accident sequence. The pilot reported that the airplane and engine had no mechanical failures or malfunctions prior to the accident. ## Factual narrative The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane stated that during the landing roll the airplane began to drift to the left. The pilot applied right rudder and right aileron, and the airplane then encountered a gust of wind from the right. The left wing then struck the runway surface and the airplane departed the runway to the right, coming to rest in soft soil. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the lower wing spar during the accident sequence. The pilot reported that the airplane and engine had no mechanical failures or malfunctions prior to the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4787V](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4787V), registered now, S/N 75-5814, built 1941 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BOEING E75 - Registry model: [Boeing E75](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-e75) (registry code 1380120) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R-985 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r-985-series) (registry code 52008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 75-5814 - Airframe hours: 3360 - Engines: Pratt and Whitney R-985 450 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Fredric W. Krueger - Registered owner: Golden Wings Advertising Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Aerobatic - Last inspection: Annual, August 28, 2008, 35 hours before - Departed: BLH, Blythe, CA - Destination: P52, Cottonwood, AZ - Airport: P52, Cottonwood, runway 14, 4,250 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 72; injuries: none; commercial, flight engineer, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 26, 2007; seat: rear; flight hours: 18,867 total, 1,042 in this make and model, 18,400 as pilot in command, 21 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 230° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 5,000 ft broken - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 30.18 inHg - Observed at: SEZ, 14 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 20090517013539A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090517013539A), May 17, 2009: Boeing E75, Cottonwood, AZ, Substantial damage. (-23) The pilot and passenger were conducting a part 91 VFR cross country flight from san diego, CA to albuquerque NM. The flight path included a fuel stop at… ## Other investigations on N4787V (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 FTW96LA211](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW96LA211), May 11, 1996: Boeing E75 (N4787V), Taos, NM, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's failure to maintain directional control. A factor was the dust devil. ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 17, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73904. 577 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 577 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40314611&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF 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.