# NTSB WPR10CA143: North American AT-6C, N76BZ, Mesa, AZ, February 20, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: February 20, 2010, 14:30 local (21:30 UTC) - Place: Mesa, AZ - Coordinates: 33.460834, -111.728332 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.4608&lon=-111.7283&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: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 28, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 75391 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR10CA143 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/75391/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75391 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10CA143 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate compensation for the crosswind and failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during landing. ## 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: [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: [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: [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: [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: [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot said that he was practicing his takeoffs and landings on runway 22L and the wind was from 160 at 10 knots. The airplane touched down and bounced, and then the pilot transitioned the airplane to a three-point landing. The pilot reported that the wind lifted up the left wing. He attempted to correct; however, the tailwheel was not yet on the ground. The airplane veered to the left and the right main landing gear collapsed. A witness reported the airplane bounced when it landed, and then it ground-looped, collapsing the right main landing gear. ## Factual narrative The pilot submitted a written statement. He was practicing takeoffs and landings on runway 22L and the wind was from 160 at 10 knots. The airplane touched down and bounced, and then the pilot transitioned the airplane to a three-point landing. The pilot reported that the wind lifted up the left wing. He attempted to correct; however, the tail wheel was not yet on the ground. The airplane veered to the left and the right main landing gear collapsed. A witness reported the airplane bounced when it landed, and then it ground looped, collapsing the right main landing gear. ## Aircraft - Registration: N76BZ (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: NORTH AMERICAN AT-6C - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 847653 - Engines: Pratt and Whitney R1340-AN-1 600 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Stephen J. Sinclair - Registered owner: Stephen J. Sinclair - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: FFZ, Mesa, AZ - Destination: FFZ, Mesa, AZ - Airport: FFZ, Falcon Field, runway 22L, 5,101 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 63; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 30, 2009; seat: front; flight hours: 1,422 total, 79 in this make and model, 1,286 as pilot in command, 21 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 160° at 10 knots - Visibility: 30 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 29.85 inHg - Observed at: FFZ ## 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 20100220028569A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100220028569A), Feb 20, 2010: North Ameri AT-6C, Mesa, AZ, Substantial damage. While practicing in the pattern, pilot landed on 22L, touched down and transitioned to three-point landing. Wind picked up left wing before tail wheel was on… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 5, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75391. 1.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 547 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40326059&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Record of Conversation- Air Response (item 2, .PDF, 13 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40326086&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation-%20Air%20Response-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation- Witness (item 3, .PDF, 13 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40326087&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation-%20Witness-Master.PDF - Photo 1. Right Wing (Provided by Airport Personnel) (item 4, .PDF, 517 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40326060&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201.%20Right%20Wing%20(Provided%20by%20Airport%20Personnel)-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.