# NTSB WPR09CA328: Boeing A75N1, N1431C, Gig Harbor, WA, July 5, 2009

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: July 5, 2009, 14:37 local (21:37 UTC)
- Place: Gig Harbor, WA
- Coordinates: 47.267776, -122.578056 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.2678&lon=-122.5781&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 October 19, 2009
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 74205
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR09CA328
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74205/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74205
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09CA328

## Probable cause

The pilot's inadequate compensation for the crosswind and failure to maintain directional control.

## Findings

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

- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Boeing A75N1(PT17), 33 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=1380134), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Response/compensation (probable cause); cases with it: [Boeing A75N1(PT17), 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=1380134), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md)
- [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 A75N1(PT17), 27 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=1380134), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/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 A75N1(PT17), 32 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=1380134), [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 A75N1(PT17), 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=1380134), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md)

## Analysis

During the landing roll on runway 17 in the tail-wheel equipped airplane, the pilot encountered a gust of wind from the right. The airplane began to weather vane to the right and veered off the runway despite the pilot's control inputs, substantially damaging the airplane's left wing. The pilot reported no mechanical failures or malfunctions prior to the accident. The weather observation station located at the airport reported shortly after the accident winds from 220 degrees at 10 knots.

## Factual narrative

During the landing roll on runway 17 in a tail-wheel equipped airplane, the pilot encountered a gust of wind from the right. The airplane began to weather vane to the right and veered off the runway despite the pilot's control inputs, substantially damaging the airplane's left wing. The pilot reported no mechanical failures or malfunctions prior to the accident. The weather observation station located at the airport reported shortly after the accident winds from 220 degrees at 10 knots.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1431C](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1431C), registered now, S/N 75-1702, built 1941 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BOEING A75N1
- Registry model: [Boeing A75N1(PT17)](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-a75n1-pt17) (registry code 1380134) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental W670 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-w670-series) (registry code 17018, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 75-1702
- Airframe hours: 3077
- Engines: Continental W670 270 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Mark Moore
- Registered owner: Mark Moore
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, March 20, 2009
- Departed: FHR, Friday Harbor, WA
- Destination: TIW, Gig Harbor, WA
- Flight plan: Unknown
- Airport: KTIW, Tacoma Narrows Airport, runway 17, 5,002 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 57; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review December 4, 2008; flight hours: 1,000 total, 100 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 220° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter: 29.84 inHg
- Observed at: TIW

## 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 20090705009429A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090705009429A), Jul 5, 2009: Boeing A75N1, Tacoma, WA, Substantial damage. (-23) On July 5, 2009 N1431C, owned and operated by [privacy data omitted] received substantial damage when it ground looped after landing on runway 17 at the…

## Other investigations on N1431C (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 GAA18CA079](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA079), Dec 3, 2017: Boeing A75N1(PT17) (N1431C), Chino, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during a touch-and-go landing.

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 19, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74205. 1.4 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 971 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40315802&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Photo 1 - Damaged wing (item 2, .PDF, 388 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40316464&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20Damaged%20wing-Master.PDF
- Record of Conversation with the Pilot (item 3, .PDF, 22 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40316465&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20with%20the%20Pilot-Master.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.