North American T6G N2831D

Summary

On 2 October 2003 at about 19:30 local time, a North American T6G registered N2831D, operated by Charles E. Yeager, was involved in an incident near Clayton, Georgia, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was slightly damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

2 October 2003 at 19:30

Classification

Incident

Location

Clayton, Georgia, United States

Nearest airport

Heaven's Landing Airport (PVT)

Coordinates

34.8328, -83.4094

Aircraft

North American T6G

Registration

N2831D

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Charles E. Yeager

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Griffin → Clayton

Aircraft damage

Minor

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ATL04IA002

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions that resulted in his failure to maintain directional control during landing roll. A factor was gusting tailwinds.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

According to the pilot during the approach to land the airplane touched down about 500 feet down runway 23 on the centerline. As the tail lost lift and the tail wheel made contact with the runway, the airplane veered left of the centerline. At 1900 feet, the airplane crossed from the south side of the runway over the centerline to the north side of the runway. The airplane veered again to the left and departed the runway on the south side about 2,000 feet from the approach end. The airplane came to rest perpendicular to the runway 2,144 feet from the approach end. Examination of the accident on-scene found that the airplane departed the runway edge and proceeded down a fifteen-foot embankment and made contact with several large rocks, separating both main landing gear. The airplane continued to rotate counter clockwise about 45-degrees and came to rest near trees. Winds at the time of the accident were 100-degrees gusting to 15 knots. Examination of the auto-locking feature for the tail-wheel found that the mechanism operated properly. Tail wheel skid marks on the runway were clearly visible throughout the length of the loss-of-control sequence. Tail wheel scuff marks were in line with the main landing gear and exhibited side-load scuffing consistent with the tail wheel being in the forward, locked position. The scuffing was not consistent with a cocked tail wheel. In addition, no evidence was identified indicating tail wheel tire sidewall or tread damage consistent with a cocked tail wheel. No mechanical problem with the airplane was reported by the pilot.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.