Event FTW98LA134

Factual narrative

On February 27, 1998, at 1150 central standard time, a Burchinal A4D-2 single seat military vintage jet, N21NB, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain following a runway overrun while landing at Meacham International Airport, Fort Worth, Texas. The airline transport rated pilot, sole occupant, sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. The flight originated from the Grayson County Airport, Sherman/Denison, Texas, approximately 1135, and no flight plan was filed. The pilot reported in the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2) that the airplane had been in storage, in an non-airworthy condition, for the last two years. The pilot was hired to oversee the maintenance and perform test flights. This was the second flight since the airplane had been brought back to an airworthy condition. The pilot stated that he did not discover any anomalies during the preflight inspection. The airplane departed from Grayson County Airport for the flight to Meacham International Airport where the aircraft was scheduled to undergo avionics repair and exterior paint work. The airplane was at 2,500 feet, between Denton Airport and Alliance Airport, when the pilot reduced the engine power to approximately "65 percent to 70 percent engine speed (so he could slow the airplane to 200 knots)." Subsequently, 15 seconds later the engine experienced an uncommanded "surge (acceleration) to 80 percent for approximately 2 seconds and then decelerated to the original 65 percent power setting." The pilot returned the engine to a cruise setting and the engine continued to operate "normally." The pilot stated that he reduced power again between the Alliance Airport and Meacham Airport, and experienced an identical "engine surging," as previously noted. The airplane was descending on the downwind leg for a full stop landing on runway 34R at Meacham Airport when the "utility failure" light illuminated. The pilot stated to air traffic control that he had a "total system failure." The pilot extended the landing gear utilizing the emergency extension procedure and executed a zero flap landing to runway 34R, at 142 knots. The airplane was approximately 1/2 mile from the approach end of the runway when the power was reduced and the engine experienced an uncommanded engine surge, consequently increasing the airplane's airspeed approximately 10 knots. The pilot pulled the throttle to the FLIGHT IDLE position and air traffic controllers reported that the airplane contacted the runway in the touchdown zone. The pilot was unable to stop the airplane on the runway and the airplane exited the departure end of the runway to the left, consequently, the gear collapsed and the airplane slid down a 12-foot-deep embankment. The airplane came to rest upright in grassy area, approximately 25 feet from the departure end of runway 34R. The pilot stated that he was wearing a flight helmet, which contacted and shattered the canopy when the airplane dropped down the embankment. At the time of the pilot's last FAA medical on May 5, 1996, he reported that he accumulated a total of 4,700 hours, of which 50 had been in the previous 6 months. An FAA inspector examined the airplane at the site and reported that there was a hole in the canopy and the nose section of the fuselage sustained structural damage. The nose gear separated from the airplane and both main landing gears collapsed. The fuselage fuel tank was structurally damaged and hydraulic fluid was observed leaking from the wing root at the right wing. The reason for the total hydraulic system failure could not be determined. The owner stated that the aircraft would be donated to a facility or disassembled. The single seat military vintage jet airplane impacted terrain following a runway overrun, while landing on runway 34R, at the Fort Worth Meacham International Airport, Fort Worth, Texas. The pilot stated that he was descending on a downwind leg at Meacham International when the 'utility failure' light illuminated. The pilot extended the gear utilizing the emergency extension procedure and executed a zero flap landing. The airplane was approximately 1/2 mile from the runway when the pilot reduced the power and the engine experienced an uncommanded engine surge, which increased the airplane's airspeed. The airplane landed in the touchdown zone on the runway. The pilot was unable to stop the airplane on the runway and the airplane overran the departure end of the runway. The airplane slid down a 12-foot-deep embankment, where it came to rest upright, 25 feet from the departure end of the runway. Hydraulic fluid was observed leaking from the right wing root. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12