North American SNJ-5 accident near Mesa, Arizona, October 23, 2001
On October 23, 2001 at about 9:49 pm local time, a North American SNJ-5, registered N3246G, was substantially damaged in an accident near Mesa, Arizona (Falcon Fld 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).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadequate compensation for an existing crosswind condition, and failure to maintain directional control on the landing rollout.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 23, 2001 · about 9:49 pm local time
- Place
- Mesa, Arizona · Falcon Fld · 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
- N3246G · registry record · serial 90725
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
On the landing rollout the airplane veered off to the right of the runway and impacted a runway distance marker. This was a proficiency flight. The pilot noted no control problems with the airplane while he was conducting maneuvers. After he was cleared to land, the local controller issued winds from 290 degrees at 8 knots. The pilot decided to make the approach at a higher airspeed in case he encountered any problems with the landing due to the exisitng crosswind. Prior to touchdown the pilot made a crosswind correction with right aileron to aid in maintaining directional control and runway alignment. After touchdown he applied full right aileron and noted that the control stick was in the full aft position. On the landing rollout he increased left rudder input because the airplane had started to move towards the right of the runway. He applied full left rudder; however, the turn continued to increase. He utilized the left brake to maneuver around an obstruction on the runway. He felt that a ground loop was imminent, released the brakes, and departed the runway. The airplane rudder and brake systems were inspected with no discrepancies noted. Wind direction and velocity issued as a result of the accident were from 290 degrees at 15 knots. The crosswind limitation for the accident airplane was 15 knots.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,115 hours in all; 89 in this make and model; 31 in the last 90 days; 19 in the last 30 days; 4,139 as pilot in command; 1,507 on instruments
- Last flight review: April 20, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,965 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 10, 2001; 16 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney R-1340 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FFZ Mesa AZ at 9:20 pm
- Destination: FFZ Mesa AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 22L, 5,102 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 41°F (5°C)
- Altimeter: 29.79 inHg
- Observation at 9:56 pm from PHX, 18 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
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.