Pilot Debrief

NORTH AMERICAN SNJ 5 near Kingsville, TX — 2018-04-25

Final reportCEN18FA147
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Date
2018-04-25
Location
Kingsville, TX, USA
Airport
NQI
Aircraft
NORTH AMERICAN SNJ 5
Registration
N12377
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Fatal
Fatalities
2
Phase of flight
Takeoff roll

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed during a steep turn after takeoff, resulting in an exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of attack and a subsequent accelerated stall at an altitude too low for recovery.

NTSB narrative

The private pilot, who was the owner of the vintage military trainer airplane, and a pilot-rated passenger were conducting a right turn just after takeoff, while still over the runway surface. Witnesses reported that the airplane's bank angle exceeded 90° and the highest altitude achieved was 200-300 ft. above ground level. The airplane then descended nose low and impacted a the ground less than 1 minute after takeoff. Radar data indicated that the airplane's average airspeed during the final portion of the flight was 87 mph and the bank angle reached about 56°, which would have resulted in a load factor of about 1.8g. Airplane performance data indicated that the accelerated stall speed at this load factor was about 95 mph, thus it is likely that, during the turn, the airplane exceeded its critical angle of attack and entered an accelerated stall at an altitude too low for the pilot to recover. Postaccident examination of the airplane did not reveal any anomalies that could be attributed to a preimpact mechanical deficiency. The airplane was equipped with tandem seating and dual flight controls; the owner was seated in the front seat and the passenger was seated in the rear seat. The removable rear cockpit control stick was found outside of the airplane, and it could not be determined if the stick was installed at the time of the accident. No conclusive determination could be made as to which occupant was manipulating the controls during the accident sequence. The private pilot was using decongestant and allergy medications. Toxicological testing identified diphenhydramine, a sedating antihistamine, at levels that were likely impairing; however, the extent to which this contributed to the accident could not be determined.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Loss of control
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have aborted takeoff during initial climb after steep bank observed.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • ADS-B / radar
  • 10 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents10

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