Summary
On April 17, 2001, a North American AT-6D (N1364N) was involved in an incident near Destin, FL. All 2 people aboard were uninjured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this incident to be: Failure of the flight instructor to maintain directional control of the aircraft during the landing rollout while landing with a crosswind in gusty conditions, which resulted in a ground swerve, and the aircraft exiting the runway and incurring substantial damage when it became stuck in sand.
On April 17, 2001, about 0945 central daylight time, a North American AT-6D, N1364N, registered to T-6 Warbirds Inc., and operated by North American Top-Gun Inc., as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight, ran off the runway while landing at Destin, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft incurred substantial damage, and the commercial-rated pilot, and dual student were not injured. The flight originated from Destin, Florida, the same day, about 0915.
The flight instructor stated that after a 30-minute familiarization flight, he demonstrated a touch-and-go landing without incident, and remained in the traffic pattern with the intent of performing a full stop landing.
This incident is documented in NTSB report MIA01LA124. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N1364N.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
failure of the flight instructor to maintain directional control of the aircraft during the landing rollout while landing with a crosswind in gusty conditions, which resulted in a ground swerve, and the aircraft exiting the runway and incurring substantial damage when it became stuck in sand.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Historical)
Analysis
On April 17, 2001, about 0945 central daylight time, a North American AT-6D, N1364N, registered to T-6 Warbirds Inc., and operated by North American Top-Gun Inc., as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight, ran off the runway while landing at Destin, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft incurred substantial damage, and the commercial-rated pilot, and dual student were not injured. The flight originated from Destin, Florida, the same day, about 0915.
The flight instructor stated that after a 30-minute familiarization flight, he demonstrated a touch-and-go landing without incident, and remained in the traffic pattern with the intent of performing a full stop landing. He said that his approach to land was normal, but just prior to touchdown with the main landing gear, he encountered wind gusts. He said as the tail of the aircraft began to settle, he encountered a gust from the right front quarter, and the aircraft weather vaned to the right. He said that he applied corrective control input, but insufficient control authority was available to arrest the excursion, and the aircraft exited the runway to the right, into loose sand, resulting in substantial damage to the aircraft. The instructor further stated that prior to the accident there had been no malfunction or failure to the aircraft, or any of its systems.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# MIA01LA124