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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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September 19, 1999 · Boeing Stearman PT17 · N29743

Westminister, MD

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
September 19, 1999
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Westminister, MD
Aircraft
Boeing Stearman PT17
Tail Number
N29743
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
NYC99LA232

The pilot landed on a private grass strip, to the northwest. After landing, the airplane contacted a hole, and the pilot over applied the brakes. The airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted. Tire tracks, similar to those of airplane tire skid marks, were found on the grass strip, leading to the point where the airplane came to rest. The grass strip was not approved for airplane use by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA); however, the pilot had landed there in the past. The winds reported at an airport 25 miles away were from a heading of 160 at 7 knots.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane while taxiing.

Full Narrative

On September 19, 1999, about 1306 Eastern Daylight Time, a Boeing Stearman PT-17, N29743, was substantially damaged during landing to a private grass strip in Westminister, Maryland. The certificated private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the flight which originated at the Montgomery County Airpark Airport (GAI), Gaithersburg, Maryland. The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot stated he landed on the grass strip, to the northwest. While taxiing to a hangar, the airplane contacted a hole and the pilot "over applied the brakes." The propeller then struck the ground and the airplane flipped over. The pilot exited the airplane and later turned it upright using cranes provided by the owner of the property. The pilot reported that a gravel road intersected the grass strip at its midpoint. The strip sloped uphill about 7-8 degrees, toward the road, and downhill about 12-13 degrees beyond the road. According to a Federal Aviation Administration Inspector, examination of the grass strip revealed tire tracks across the gravel road, similar to those of airplane tire skid marks. The tracks stopped at the point where the airplane came to rest, about 100 feet past the intersecting road, on the 1,500 foot long grass strip. Upon visual inspection of the airplane, the Inspector found that the vertical stabilizer and rudder were crushed; however, one wooden strut from the vertical stabilizer remained upright and extended from the fuselage about 2 1/2 feet. The horizontal stabilizer and elevator were undamaged, and three out of four of the wing struts were bent. The wooden propeller was damaged at both tips and was splintered throughout the length of the blade. The grass strip was not approved for airplane use by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA); however, the pilot reported he had landed there in the past. The winds reported at an airport about 25 miles from the accident site, were from 160 degrees at 7 knots.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time13:06 EDT
Nearest Airport0nm
Runway0
Runway Length1500 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftBoeing Stearman PT17
Tail NumberN29743
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · R-670 · Reciprocating · 220
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 45 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind160° @ 7 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point55
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time20:54
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data