Fernandina Beach Munic. Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Fernandina Bch, Florida 32034
Saturday, May 23, 1987 16:30 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

TAIL WHEEL STRUT WAS FOUND TO BE OVER SERVICED CAUSING IT TO BE EXTENDED HIGHER THAN NORMAL. THIS WOULD CAUSE THE AIRCRAFT TO BE HARDER TO STEER. ON LANDING IN A CROSS WIND THE PILOT EXPERIENCED VIBRATION OF THE TAIL WHEEL FOLLOWED BY FAILURE DUE TO TORSIONAL OVERSTRESS OF THE TAIL WHEEL BELLCRANK. TAIL WHEEL STEERING CONTROL WAS THEN LOST AND THE AIRCRAFT RAN OFF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY CAUSING COLLAPSE OF THE MAIN LANDING GEAR.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/23/1987
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1630
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City FERNANDINA BCH
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 32034
Event Date Year 1987
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport FERNANDINA BEACH MUNIC.
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 55J
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 15
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1654 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 190
Weather Observation Facility ID CRG
Elevation of weather observation facility 41
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 16
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 3500
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 7
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 26
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 19
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 80
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 1100
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 496
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date May 23 1987 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1800
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 33557
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 2:24PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2996Q
NTSB Number MIA87LA162
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name NORTH AMERICAN
Aircraft Model AT-6D
Aircraft Series Identifier AT-6D
Aircraft Serial Number 493071
Certified Max Gross Weight 5300
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jan 31 1987 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 15985
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name BURCH BROTHERS INC
Aircraft Owner Street Address 905 WEST STORM RD
Aircraft Owner City WINTER GARDEN
Aircraft Owner State FL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 32787
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name SCOTT S.BURCH
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 905 WEST STORY ROAD
Operator City WINTER GARDEN
Operator State FL
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 32787
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code ISM
Departure City KISSIMMEE
Departure State FL
Departure Country
Departure Time 1500
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 4
Runway Length 5300
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --