N60418

Substantial
None

FAIRCHILD(HOWARD) M 62C(PT-23A)S/N: 337SL

Accident Details

Date
Thursday, May 22, 2014
NTSB Number
ERA14CA320
Location
Petersburg, VA
Event ID
20140701X82638
Coordinates
37.200000, -77.505554
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
Highest Injury
None
Fatalities
0
Serious Injuries
0
Minor Injuries
0
Uninjured
2
Total Aboard
2

Probable Cause and Findings

The flight instructor's failure to maintain control of the airplane during the landing attempt. Contributing to the accident was the changing wind conditions.

Aircraft Information

Registration
N60418
Make
FAIRCHILD(HOWARD)
Serial Number
337SL
Year Built
1943
Model / ICAO
M 62C(PT-23A)

Registered Owner (Historical)

Name
REGISTRATION PENDING
Address
5827 ARLINGTON CIR
Status
Deregistered
City
MELBOURNE
State / Zip Code
FL 32940-1825
Country
United States

Analysis

The flight instructor was providing training to the pilot for a tailwheel endorsement in the vintage military training airplane. The pilots described that it was "windy," with the wind generally aligned with the landing runway. Following several uneventful approaches and landings, the pilot was having difficulty controlling the airplane due to the wind, and the flight instructor offered to take control of the airplane and demonstrate a stabilized approach. When the airplane reached about 50 feet above the runway, the wind velocity suddenly decreased and the airplane began descending rapidly. The flight instructor responded by increasing engine power in an attempt to abort the landing; however, the airplane struck the runway and bounced back into the air. The flight instructor then completed an uneventful circuit around the traffic pattern, landed, and returned to the parking area to inspect the airplane for damage. Finding none, the pilot then restarted the airplane and flew another two circuits around the traffic pattern uneventfully. After the pilot returned to the parking area, the flight instructor noted substantial damage to the lower portion of both wings. The pilots reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Data Source

Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# ERA14CA320