# NTSB WPR09LA457: North American AT-6G, N555Q, Ely, NV, July 28, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 28, 2009, 13:30 local (20:30 UTC) - Place: Ely, NV - Coordinates: 39.29972, -114.841941 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.2997&lon=-114.8419&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 April 19, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 74762 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR09LA457 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74762/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74762 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09LA457 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Terrain: sloped/uneven terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation; cases with it: [North American AT-6G, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017/cases.md?model=6400434), [All aircraft, 270 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017/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: [North American AT-6G, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=6400434), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/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 AT-6G, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=6400434), [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-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [North American AT-6G, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=6400434), [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: [North American AT-6G, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=6400434), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [North American AT-6G, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=6400434), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that during the landing roll in the tailwheel-equipped airplane, he lowered the tail and applied braking action to slow the airplane. After applying the brakes, the airplane veered to the right and exited the runway into an area of soft dirt. The left main landing gear subsequently collapsed and the left wing contacted the surface resulting in substantial damage. A post accident examination of the airplane's brakes revealed no anomalies which would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative On July 28, 2009, about 1330 Pacific daylight time, a North American AT-6G tailwheel equipped airplane, N555Q, sustained substantial damage during landing roll and subsequent ground loop at the Ely Airport (ELY), Ely, Nevada. The private pilot, who occupied the front seat, and his passenger who occupied the rear seat, were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the cross-country flight, which was being operated in accordance with Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91, and a flight plan was not filed. The flight departed the Livermore Municipal Airport (LVK), Livermore, California, about 1045, with ELY as its destination. The pilot reported to the Safety Board investigator-in-charge (IIC) that he made a normal visual approach and smooth landing on Runway 30, lowered the tail at about 30 to 40 miles per hour, and applied brakes to slow the airplane. The pilot stated that after applying the brakes the airplane pulled to the right, and as the airplane was going off the right side of the runway onto what appeared to be hard ground, he turned off the fuel, mixture, mags, and master switch. The pilot reported that after the airplane exited the runway to the right onto softer desert ground, the left [main landing] gear "…caught in the soft sand, then failed. This caused the aircraft's left wing tip to touch the ground and bent the [propeller] on one side." The pilot also reported that the wind at the time of the accident was from 300 degrees at 7 knots. A post-accident examination of the airplane's left wing revealed that it had sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported to the IIC that prior to the accident he had discovered three separate reports from three separate owner/pilots of the accident airplane, which detailed multiple, ongoing "brake lock-up" problems and brake system incidents. No maintenance records were provided to the IIC during the investigation to indicate that there had been a previous problem with either brake. During a post-accident investigation, a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airworthiness aviation safety inspector examined both the left and right brakes. The inspector reported that both brakes had normal wear at the time of his inspection, the left and right wheel bearings had fresh grease and were in good condition, and that the left and right spindles had fresh grease with no sign of damage. Post-accident inspection of the airplane did not reveal any preexisting failure/malfunction which would have resulted in the loss of control. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N555Q](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N555Q), registered now, S/N 197-042, built 1957 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: NORTH AMERICAN AT-6G - Registry model: [North American AT-6G](https://openairdocs.org/model/north-american-at-6g) (registry code 6400434) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R1340 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r1340-series) (registry code 52016, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 197-042 - Airframe hours: 4912 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney R-1340 600 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Bret Cox - Registered owner: Bay Area Warbirds LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 30, 2009, 22 hours before - Departed: LVK, Livermore, CA - Destination: ELY, Ely, NV - Airport: ELY, Ely Airport (Yelland Field), runway 30, 4,814 × 60 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 44; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 23, 2009; seat: front; flight hours: 1,160 total, 58 in this make and model, 900 as pilot in command, 25 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 30° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 95 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: ELY ## 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 20090728018299A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090728018299A), Jul 28, 2009: Namer AT6G, Ely, NV, Substantial damage. A north American AT-6T, N555Q, was substantially damaged during a landing on runway 30 at Ely, Nevada. Pilot stated that upon brake application, the aircraft… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 11, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74762. 831 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 750 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40322376&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Record of Report - FAA Inspector (item 2, .PDF, 29 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40322377&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Report%20-%20FAA%20Inspector-Master.PDF - Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 (item 3, .PDF, 52 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40322378&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Release%20of%20Aircraft%20Wreckage,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.15-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.