North American SNJ-4 accident near Ashland, Ohio, August 12, 2017
On August 12, 2017 at about 3:17 pm local time, a 1943 North American SNJ-4, registered N243CC, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Ashland, Ohio (Ashland County Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s improper recovery from a bounced landing, which resulted in a loss of directional control.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 12, 2017 · about 3:17 pm local time
- Place
- Ashland, Ohio · Ashland County Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- North American SNJ-4, built 1943 · all SNJ-4s on the register
- Registration
- N243CC · no longer on the register · serial 88-13243
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane stated that, during a "wheel landing," the airplane bounced twice upon touchdown then veered off the runway into a grass area. The pilot was unable to return the airplane to the runway surface because the airplane was "slipping on the grass" while the pilot applied left rudder and left wheel brake. The airplane nosed over when it came to a stop in the grass area and came to rest inverted. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane. According to the Airplane Flying Handbook, corrective action from a bounced landing is dependent upon its severity, and such action can range from an application of power to cushion a subsequent landing to performance of a go-around.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Abnormal runway contact during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll)
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
- Attempted remediation/recovery during landing (landing roll)
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,565 hours in all; 71 in this make and model; 14 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 1,463 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Last flight review: April 25, 2017
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 14,658.7 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 16, 2017
- Maximum gross weight: 5,265 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Pratt&Whitney R1340 AN-1 (piston); 7,982 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AKR Akron OH at 3:00 pm
- Destination: 3G4 Ashland OH
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 19, 3,501 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,100 ft; scat at 2,400 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.01 inHg
- Observation at 4:07 pm from MFD, 13 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on September 12, 2018. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 10 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Airplane Flying Handbook Excerpt | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.