North American SNJ-5 accident near Merritt Island, Florida, January 16, 2009
On January 16, 2009 at about 11:00 pm local time, a North American SNJ-5, registered N7861B, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Merritt Island, Florida (Merritt Island airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during landing in windy conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 16, 2009 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Merritt Island, Florida · Merritt Island · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- North American SNJ-5 · all SNJ-5s on the register
- Registration
- N7861B · registry record · serial 43736
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was landing on runway 29 at his destination airport. The winds were from 350 degrees at 15 knots, gusting to 18 knots. During the landing rollout, he lost directional control and the airplane ground-looped. The airplane then departed the right side of the runway and impacted a taxiway location sign. The airplane came to rest on the right side of the runway, approximately 1,250 feet from the threshold. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed substantial damage to the right wing, both main landing gear, and the propeller. No preimpact mechanical malfunctions were reported.
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
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › (general) › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Ability to respond/compensate
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 380 hours in all; 90 in this make and model; 32 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 170 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 20, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,387 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 4, 2008
- Maximum gross weight: 5,300 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: P&W R1340 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KISM Kissimmee FL at 10:25 pm
- Destination: KCOI Merritt Island FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 29, 3,601 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 360° at 15 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.40 inHg
- Observation at 10:55 pm from KCOF, 8 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ERA09CA135.