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Atlas / NTSB / NYC00LA173

NTSB CAROL · Event

Event NYC00LA173

2000-06-19 ROCHESTER, New Hampshire, United States Airport · DAW None 1 aircraft Status: Completed

Registry · N162V

FAA Aircraft Registry record.

Make / Model

TRAVEL AIR D-4-D

Year of manufacture

1929 · 71 years old at event

Engine

LYCOMING R680-13 (300 hp)

Seats / Engines

3 seats · 1 engine

Last airworthiness date

20180621

ADS-B equipped

Yes — Mode-S A0FAF7

Registrant of record

ZEILER RICHARD TRUSTEE

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control. A factor in the accident was the pilot's lack of experience in the accident airplane make and model.

Factual narrative

On June 19, 2000, at 1900 Eastern Daylight Time, a Fleet 16B, N162V, was substantially damage during landing, when it ground-looped at the Skyhaven Airport, Rochester, New Hampshire. The certificated airline transport pilot and pilot rated passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal local flight. No flight plan was filed, and the flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. According to the pilot, the airplane touched down on the runway, slowed to approximately 20 mph, and then ground looped to the left. During the event, the airplane stayed on the runway. The pilot then taxied the airplane to the hangar. An external examination of the airplane revealed only minor damage to the left wing, but an internal inspection showed that the wooden-wing spar had cracked. The pilot made no mention of any mechanical problems, and reported the wind as 250 degrees magnetic at 6 knots with no gust. The pilot had approximately 3,355 hours of total flight experience, 125 hours in tailwheel-equipped airplanes, and 1 hour in the accident airplane make and model. The airplane touched down on the runway, slowed to approximately 20 mph, and then ground looped to the left. During the event, the airplane stayed on the runway. The pilot then taxied the airplane to the hangar. An external examination of the airplane revealed only minor damage to the left wing, but an internal inspection showed that the wooden-wing spar had cracked. The pilot made no mention of any mechanical problems, and reported the wind as 250 degrees magnetic at 6 knots with no gust. The pilot had approximately 3,355 hours of total flight experience, 125 hours in tailwheel-equipped airplanes, and 1 hour in the accident airplane make and model. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2000_NYC00LA173.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.