# Accident 19990523024109A: Boeing D75N1, Grainfield, KS, May 23, 1999

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 23, 1999, 14:00 local time
- Place: Grainfield, KS
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Unauth Low Level Opns
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 39.1096° N, 100.4593° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.1096&lon=-100.4593&mi=10
- Aircraft: N59260, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N59260) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Boeing D75N1 (registry code 1380148, https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-d75n1) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental W670 series (registry code 17018, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-w670-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BOEING D75N1
- Reported engine: CONT R670*
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 9,372 total, 1,300 in this make and model, 2 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI99LA158](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI99LA158) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990523024109A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(.19) ON MAY 23, 1999, AT 1400 CENTRAL DAYLIGHT TIME, A STEARMAN PT-27, N59260, RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE NEAR GRAINFIELD, KANSAS.  THE AIRPLANE WAS FLYING LOW AND MANEUVERING TO VIDEO A GROUP OF MOTORCYCLES ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN IT FLEW INTO A GRAIN FIELD AND NOSED OVER.  THE COMMERCIAL PILOT WAS NOT INJURED AND THE PASSENGER RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES.  THE 14 CFR PART 91 FLIGHT HAD DEPARTED OAKLEY, KANSAS, ON A LOCAL FLIGHT.  VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AND NO FLIGHT PLAN HAD BEEN FILED. (-23) THE FLIGHT DEPARTED OAKLEY, KANSAS (OEL) TO ALLOW THE PASSENGER TO VIDEO A GROUP OF MOTORCYCLES ON I-70.  THE AIRCRAFT WAS FLYING APPROX. 10 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND, THE AIRCRAFT DESCENDED INTO THE WHEAT BELOW AND THEN SLOWED DOWN AND SETTLED ONTO THE GROUND.  THE AIRCRAFT ROLLED 188 FEET BEFORE IT FLIPPED OVER AND STOPPED INVERTED. (.4) THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE HAD A PASSENGER ON BOARD THE AIRPLANE WHO WAS VIDEOTAPING A GROUP OF MOTORCYCLISTS WHO WERE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY I-70 ON THEIR WAY TO WASHINGTON, D.C. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE WAS FLYING AT AN ALTITUDE OF 10 TO 20 FEET ABOVE GROUND ALTITUDE WITH A 20 TO 23 MPH LEFT QUARTERING TAILWIND.  HE REPORTED THE AIRPLANE FELT  AS THOUGH IT WERE BEING PUSHED DOWN INTO THE WHEAT FIELD. HE REPORTED THE AIRPLANE'S WHEELS STARTED IMPACTING THE GRAIN OF THE WHEAT FIELD AND THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER ABOUT 200 FEET LATER.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB CHI99LA158](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI99LA158), May 23, 1999: Boeing Stearman PT-27 (N59260), Grainfield, KS, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's improper in-flight decision and failure to maintain adequate clearance with the ground.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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