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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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NTSB Report

June 14, 1998 · Boeing Stearman A75N1 · N48576

Riverbank, CA

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
June 14, 1998
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured, 1 unknown outcome)
Location
Riverbank, CA
Aircraft
Boeing Stearman A75N1
Tail Number
N48576
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
LAX98LA198

The pilot stated that the runway was situated perpendicular to a road. He overflew the private dirt strip two times to check for landing direction and on-coming traffic. The pilot stated that he observed no on-coming traffic. He reported that as he reached the threshold 'things happened.' The aircraft touched down and became inverted facing the approach end of the runway. The pilot reported that he did not realize that the aircraft had struck a vehicle. Both the pilot and driver of the vehicle stated that they were unaware of each other's presence. No signage is available warning vehicles of low flying aircraft.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's inadequate visual lookout for on-coming ground traffic.

Full Narrative

On June 14, 1998, at 1655 hours Pacific daylight time, a Boeing Stearman A75N1, N48576, struck a vehicle on approach for landing and came to rest inverted on the runway of a private dirt strip near Riverbank, California. The aircraft, operated under 14 CFR Part 91 sustained substantial damage. The commercial pilot/owner was not injured. The driver of the car sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions existed for the personal flight that had departed the Sacramento, California, airport at 1645. The flight was scheduled to terminate at the private dirt strip and no flight plan was filed. In an interview with a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, the pilot stated that the dirt strips runs perpendicular to Lone Star Road. His standard practice is to overfly the airport two times to check the windsock for landing direction, and to verify that there is no traffic on the road. He reported that as he reached the threshold "things happened." The aircraft touched down and became inverted facing the approach end of the runway. The pilot reported that he exited the aircraft to see if he had touched down on soft dirt. He stated that he still had not realized that he had struck a vehicle. The pilot reported no pre-existing anomalies with the engine. In the pilot's written statement to the Safety Board, he stated that to clear traffic on the road, his usual practice is to fly approximately 200 to 300 feet above ground level. He further reported that he observed no traffic on the base leg or final leg of the approach. A California Highway Patrol (CHP) officer from Colusa County investigated the accident, and interviewed the pilot and driver of the car. Both the pilot and the driver of the automobile stated that they were unaware of each other's presence during the accident. The CHP officer noted that there are no signs either north or southbound warning of low flying aircraft, or any mention of an airport until arrival at airport entrance. The driver of the vehicle was interviewed by the FAA through his father. The father reported that his son was traveling southbound at the time of the accident, and the aircraft struck the left side of the vehicle.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time16:55 PDT
Nearest AirportPrivate Dirt Strip (0nm)
Runway27
Runway Length1800 ft
Runway Width30 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftBoeing Stearman A75N1
Tail NumberN48576
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · W-670 · Reciprocating · 220
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured, 1 unknown outcome)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total2
Crew 1Age 79 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind360° @ 12 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point70 F / 0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data