Primary finding
Probable cause
the pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing rollout. Factors which contributed to the loss of control were: the pilot's total lack of experience landing the conventional gear airplane in a crosswind condition, and the crosswind.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
During landing rollout the airplane veered off the left side of runway 16R, ground looped, and the lower right wing contacted the ground. According to the pilot, he was unable to keep his airplane on the runway because a gusty crosswind condition existed. The pilot said he had a total of 9.3 hours of pilot-in-command flying experience in the airplane. Van Nuys Airport reported its local wind was from 100 to 110 degrees, at 10 knots.
Source record
Factual narrative
On August 1, 1995, at 1432 hours Pacific daylight time, a Boeing B75-A75N1, N54284, operated by the pilot, lost directional control during landing rollout at the Van Nuys Airport, Van Nuys, California. The airplane veered off the left side of runway 16R, ground looped, and the lower right wing was bent as it contacted the ground. The airplane was substantially damaged, and the private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the personal flight, and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated from Santa Monica, California, at 1400. The National Transportation Safety Board received initial notification of the accident from the Federal Aviation Administration on April 30, 1996. Regarding circumstances of the accident, on May 15, 1996, the pilot reported to the Safety Board that during rollout he was unable to keep his airplane on the runway because a gusty crosswind condition existed. The pilot reported having a total of 9.3 hours of pilot-in-command experience in the airplane. At 1347 and 1447, Van Nuys reported its local wind as from 100 and 110 degrees at 10 knots, respectively. Runway 16R is 8,000 feet long by 150 feet wide. -