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Atlas / NTSB / CHI07CA303

NTSB CAROL · Event

Event CHI07CA303

2007-09-22 Bloomington, Illinois, United States Airport · BMI None 1 aircraft Status: Completed

Registry · N11HP

FAA Aircraft Registry record.

Make / Model

NORTH AMERICAN SNJ-5

Year of manufacture

1943 · 64 years old at event

Engine

P&W R1340 SERIES (600 hp)

Seats / Engines

2 seats · 1 engine

Last airworthiness date

19860903

ADS-B equipped

Yes — Mode-S A02A97

Registrant of record

WHISKEY BEND AEROSPACE LLC

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during takeoff roll which resulted in a ground loop.

Factual narrative

The airplane ground looped during takeoff roll. The pilot reported that the airplane started to veer to the left as he increased engine power for the takeoff roll on runway 11 (6,525 feet by 150 feet, concrete). The pilot reduced engine power to idle as the airplane departed off the left side of the runway. The right wingtip, tip rib, and aileron were damaged during the ground loop. The pilot reported that his rapid advance of engine power and inadequate use of up-elevator (backstick) contributed to the tail becoming prematurely airborne and the subsequent loss of directional control. The winds were reported to be variable at 5 knots. The airplane ground looped during the takeoff roll. The pilot reported that the airplane started to veer to the left as he increased engine power for the takeoff roll on runway 11 (6,525 feet by 150 feet, concrete). The pilot reduced engine power to idle as the airplane departed off the left side of the runway. The right wingtip, tip rib, and aileron were damaged during the ground loop. The pilot reported that his rapid advance of engine power and inadequate use of up-elevator (backstick) contributed to the tail becoming prematurely airborne and the subsequent loss of directional control. The winds were reported to be variable at 5 knots. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2007_CHI07CA303.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.