Antique Airfield Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Blakesburg, Iowa 52501
Friday, September 3, 2010 9:00 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot of the tailwheel–equipped airplane performed a short-field landing on the grass runway. During the landing rollout, he applied the brakes and the aircraft slowed normally. Due to his position in the cockpit, the pilot could not see the end of the runway until the airplane approached it. He intentionally ground-looped the airplane in an attempt to avoid traveling off the end of the runway. The airplane turned 90 degrees and impacted trees. According to a Federal Aviation Administration inspector, witnesses reported the airplane's approach speed was excessive for the short runway. Examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the forward left wing spar. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's excessive airspeed during the landing, which resulted in his decision to perform an intentional ground loop to avoid a runway overrun.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/3/2010
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 900
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Blakesburg
Event State IOWA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 52501
Event Date Year 2010
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 405840N
Event Location Longitude 0923515W
Event Location Airport Antique Airfield
Event Location Nearest Airport ID IA27
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID --
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation --
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 280
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 15
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator --
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
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) 27766
NTSB Notification Source FAA Operations Center
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 12 2011 10:13AM
User who most recently changed record lema
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N77TX
NTSB Number CEN10CA565
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
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-6
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 78-6698
Certified Max Gross Weight 5300
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats 2
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 Feb 13 2010 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 11141
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name C & B AERO PLAIN CO
Aircraft Owner Street Address 147 N JONATHAN BLVD STE 4
Aircraft Owner City CHASKA
Aircraft Owner State MN
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 55318-2325
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name Bruce D. Olson
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Eden Prairie
Operator State MN
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code --
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
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) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code FCM
Departure City Eden Prairie
Departure State MN
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 730
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code IA27
Destination City Blakesburg
Destination State IA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Oct 18 2010 1:36PM
User who most recently changed record saua
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location 18
Runway Length 2350
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --