# NTSB WPR09CA300: North American/Victoria MNT LT AT-6A, N9793Z, Olympia, WA, June 20, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 19, 2009, 19:15 local (Jun 20, 2009, 02:15 UTC) - Place: Olympia, WA - Coordinates: 46.969444, -122.902496 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.9694&lon=-122.9025&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 10, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 74086 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR09CA300 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74086/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74086 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09CA300 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate compensation for the crosswind gust and failure to maintain directional control while landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: crosswind correction](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062030): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [North American/Victoria MNT LT AT-6A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062030/cases.md?model=6400406), [All aircraft, 184 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062030/cases.md) - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [North American/Victoria MNT LT AT-6A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=6400406), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: sign/marker](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [North American/Victoria MNT LT AT-6A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015/cases.md?model=6400406), [All aircraft, 214 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015/cases.md) - [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Response/compensation (probable cause); cases with it: [North American/Victoria MNT LT AT-6A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=6400406), [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: [North American/Victoria MNT LT AT-6A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=6400406), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240); cases with it: [North American/Victoria MNT LT AT-6A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=6400406), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) (defining event); cases with it: [North American/Victoria MNT LT AT-6A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=6400406), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [North American/Victoria MNT LT AT-6A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=6400406), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis While making a three-point landing in his tailwheel-equipped airplane, the pilot encountered a strong crosswind gust about the same time that he was initiating the landing flare. Because the pilot was unable to compensate for the wind gust, the airplane touched down with its right main landing gear beyond the right edge of the runway. The pilot saw that the airplane was approaching a runway sign, so he added power in order to execute a go-around, but the right wing impacted the sign before he could get it airborne. Immediately after the airplane impacted the sign, the pilot cut the power and aborted the go-around. The airplane's right wing and its fuselage both sustained substantial damage. The pilot stated that there were no problems with any of the airplane's control systems. The reported wind conditions included wind gusts up to 18 knots at the time of the accident. ## Factual narrative While making a three-point landing in his tailwheel-equipped airplane, the pilot encountered a strong crosswind gust about the same time as he was initiating the landing flare. Because the pilot was unable to compensate for the wind gust, the airplane touched down with its right main landing gear beyond the right edge of the runway. The pilot saw that the airplane was approaching a runway sign, so he added power in order to execute a go-around, but the right wing impacted the sign before he could get it airborne. Immediately after the airplane impacted the sign, the pilot cut the power and aborted the go-around. The airplane's right wing and its fuselage both sustained substantial damage. The pilot stated that there were no problems with any of the airplane's control systems. The reported wind conditions included wind gusts up to 18 knots at the time of the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9793Z](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9793Z), registered now, S/N 75-3048 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: NORTH AMERICAN/VICTORIA MNT LT AT-6A - Registry model: [North American/Victoria MNT LT AT-6A](https://openairdocs.org/model/north-american-victoria-mnt-lt-at-6a) (registry code 6400406) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 75-3048 - Airframe hours: 8261 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney R1340 600 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Koelbel John D - Registered owner: Koelbel John D - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 17, 2009 - Departed: KELN, Elllensburg, WA - Destination: KOLM, Olympia, WA - Airport: KOLM, Olympia, runway 26, 4,157 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 65; injuries: minor; flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 8, 2008; seat: front; flight hours: 7,000 total, 300 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 11 knots, gusting 18 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 5,000 ft broken - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 29.90 inHg - Observed at: KOLM ## 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 20090619009649A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090619009649A), Jun 19, 2009: Namer AT6A, Olympia, WA, Substantial damage. Pilot was landing the aircraft on runway 26 at the Olympia airport in Olympia, WA. Pilot lost control of the aircraft during the crosswind landing. ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 24, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74086. 579 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 579 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40316172&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.