North American SNJ-4 accident near Heber City, Utah, November 16, 2019
On November 16, 2019 at about 9:30 pm local time, a North American SNJ-4, registered N694US, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Heber City, Utah (Heber Valley airport). It was an aerial observation flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s loss of directional control during landing as a result of the separated tailwheel-to-rudder link rod
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 16, 2019 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Heber City, Utah · Heber Valley · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- North American SNJ-4 · all SNJ-4s on the register
- Registration
- N694US · registry record · serial 88-13627
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial observation flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that after an uneventful three-point landing in the tailwheel equipped airplane with an 8-knot crosswind, the airplane veered to the left. Despite the pilot's control inputs, the airplane exited the left side of the runway, resulting in substantial damage to the right wing. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the tailwheel-to-rudder link rod was separated from the rudder control horn. The associated attachment hardware, which included a bolt, castellated nut, and cotter pin were not located. Elongation and inward bending were observed on the upper and lower bearing shields, which most likely was a result of the bolt separating from the assembly. It could not be determined if the link rod bolt had a cotter pin installed prior to the accident. Although separation of the tailwheel-to-rudder link rod would disable tailwheel steering, which could reduce ability to maintain directional control during landing, the effect can be counteracted by other control inputs and differential braking.
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
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Steering unit › Damaged/degraded
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Misc hardware › Fasteners › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine sea; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: helicopter; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 25,000 hours in all; 30 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 20,000 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 3, 2019
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 1, 2019; 26.5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,300 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney R1340 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Wasatch Flyers LLC
The flight
- Departed from: HCR Heber City UT at 9:00 pm
- Destination: HCR Heber City UT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 04, 6,898 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 21°F (-6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.20 inHg
- Observation at 9:35 pm from KHCR
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on May 25, 2022. 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, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Record of Conversation - Pilot | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Tailwheel to Rudder Link Rod Examination | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Photo | PDF, 1 page | 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.