Summary
On August 24, 2003, a North American AT-6 (N37642) was involved in an incident near Omaha, NE. All 1 person aboard were uninjured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this incident to be: The pilot not maintaining aircraft control during the landing roll. Factors were the grass the airplane encountered when the airplane ground looped off the runway and the main gear collapsed.
On August 24, 2003, about 1245 central daylight time, an experimental exhibition North American AT-6, N37642, piloted by a commercial pilot, sustained substantial damage on impact with terrain when its left main landing gear collapsed during a ground loop at Offutt Air Force Base (OFF), near Omaha, Nebraska. The air show flight was operating under 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. No flight plan was on file. The pilot was uninjured. The local flight originated from OFF at 1230 and was landing at the time of the accident.
The pilot reported: I took off during the air show [at] 1230 and made 3 passes down the runway (12) [at] 400 [feet] and then set up for the landing on the down wind leg of the 4th pass. ...
This incident is documented in NTSB report CHI03LA285. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N37642.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The pilot not maintaining aircraft control during the landing roll. Factors were the grass the airplane encountered when the airplane ground looped off the runway and the main gear collapsed.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Current)
Analysis
On August 24, 2003, about 1245 central daylight time, an experimental exhibition North American AT-6, N37642, piloted by a commercial pilot, sustained substantial damage on impact with terrain when its left main landing gear collapsed during a ground loop at Offutt Air Force Base (OFF), near Omaha, Nebraska. The air show flight was operating under 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. No flight plan was on file. The pilot was uninjured. The local flight originated from OFF at 1230 and was landing at the time of the accident.
The pilot reported:
I took off during the air show [at] 1230 and made 3
passes down the runway (12) [at] 400 [feet] and then
set up for the landing on the down wind leg of the
4th pass. ... I made a smooth 3-point landing at
approximately 1245, and on roll out the airplanes right
wing came up and the airplane made a turn to the right.
I was unable to correct before it slid onto the grass,
at that point the left main gear collapsed, causing the
wing and prop to hit the ground.
The pilot reported thet there were no mechanical malfunctions prior to the accident.
At 1255, the recorded OFF wind was 200 degrees at 8 knots.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# CHI03LA285