Gillespie Field Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

El Cajon, California 92020
Sunday, February 23, 2003 16:11 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

During landing rollout, the airline transport pilot encountered a left crosswind, lost directional control, collided with a sign, applied engine power thereby initiating a go-around and finally collided with terrain. Previously, the second pilot had performed three takeoffs and landings in the traffic pattern. The certificated airline transport pilot (ATP) performed the fourth landing on runway 27R. During rollout he pulled the control stick aft and left. The airplane veered left, directional control was lost, and the airplane collided with a taxiway sign. Thereafter, the ATP applied full engine power to go around. The airplane veered right, exited the right side of the runway, and became airborne. While in ground effect, the airplane's right wing tip impacted a nearby dirt embankment. The airplane came to rest in a grassy field on airport property. The ATP indicated that during the attempted landing the left crosswind increased in speed and a gust was encountered. He estimated that the wind was from 220 degrees at 10 knots, with an occasional gust to 14 knots.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's inadequate compensation for the crosswind conditions and loss of directional control during landing.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 2/23/2003
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1611
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City El Cajon
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 92020
Event Date Year 2003
Event Date Month 2
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 324934N
Event Location Longitude 1165821W
Event Location Airport Gillespie Field
Event Location Nearest Airport ID SEE
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 387
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1550 Pacific Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID SEE
Elevation of weather observation facility 387
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation PST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 3500
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 2500
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 15
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 230
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 6
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.8
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 16551
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Feb 23 2003 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1629
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Oct 28 2004 10:11AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office San Diego, CA

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N1822B
NTSB Number LAX03LA094
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Luscombe
Aircraft Model T-8F
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 6249
Certified Max Gross Weight 1400
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 --
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection May 11 2002 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 44
Airframe Hours 4550
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Dan Hearn
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Greenville
Aircraft Owner State TX
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 75404
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name John A. Hammerstrand
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Alpine
Operator State --
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 91901
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code SEE
Departure City El Cajon
Departure State CA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1529
Departure Time Zone PST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code SEE
Destination City El Cajon
Destination State CA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Landing - aborted
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Sep 11 2004 1:32PM
User who most recently changed record COOS
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 27R
Runway Length 5341
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --