# Accident 20200905012739A: Boeing A75N1(PT17), Henderson, TX, September 5, 2020

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 5, 2020, 13:30 local time
- Place: Henderson, TX
- Airport: Rusk County Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 32.1533° N, 94.7994° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.1533&lon=-94.7994&mi=10
- Aircraft: N373VU, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N373VU-2023-02-04) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Boeing A75N1(PT17) (registry code 1380134, https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-a75n1-pt17) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental W670 series (registry code 17018, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-w670-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BOEING A75N1(PT17)
- Reported engine: CONT MOTOR W670 SERIES
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 2
- Pilot certificates: Student
- Pilot flight hours: 40 total, 10 in this make and model, 8 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN20LA383](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20LA383) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200905012739A

## Narrative

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

ON SEPTEMBER 5, 2020, AT ABOUT 1430 CST, N373VU, A BOEING STEARMAN A75N1 (PT17), WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT IN WHICH THE AIRCRAFT WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. BOTH OCCUPANTS, THE PILOT AND HIS PASSENGER, SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES.

N373VU WAS DEPARTING RUSK COUNTY AIRPORT (KRFI), FROM RUNWAY 35, WHEN SHORTLY AFTER BECOMING AIRBORNE, THE AIRCRAFT WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE, ENTERED A LEFT TURN AND SHORTLY AFTER LEVELING OFF THE TAIL STRUCK THE TOP OF A THE TREE, TO LEFT OF THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY, CAUSING THE AIRCRAFT TO GO DOWN THRU THE TREES AND COMING TO REST ON THE GROUND ON ITS ENGINE AND PROPELLER.

THE AIRCRAFT PROPELLER, WINGS, FUSELAGE AND EMPENNAGE SUFFERED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE FROM IMPACT. THE LEFT HORIZONTAL STABILIZER HAD DETACHED FROM THE AIRCRAFT AND WAS CAUGHT UP ON THE CANOPY OF THE TREE LINE. VISUAL EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE ON SITE DID NOT REVEAL ANY OBVIOUS PRE-IMPACT ISSUES.

A WITNESS, WHOM SAW THE ACCIDENT FROM THE TERMINAL WINDOW, STATED THAT HE SAW THE AIRCRAFT BECOME AIRBORNE AND THAT IT SEEMED AS IF THE AIRCRAFT NEVER GOT OVER 150 FEET OFF THE GROUND AND THAT IT ENTERED A LEFT TURN SHORTLY AFTER TAKE OFF, TO WHAT APPEARED LIKE A STALL, AND THEN DISAPPEARED OVER THE TREES.

FUEL TRANSACTION REPORT OBTAINED FROM THE RUSK COUNTY AIRPORT FBO INDICATED THAT APPROXIMATELY 21.470 GALLONS OF 100LL FUEL WAS SOLD TO N373VU SHORTLY BEFORE DEPARTURE.

AIRCRAFT RECORD EXAMINATION INDICATED THAT THE LAST ANNUAL INSPECTION WAS PERFORMED ON 08/10/2020. THE ENGINE ON THE AIRCRAFT HAD BEEN INSTALLED ON 08/05/2020, AS THE PREVIOUS ENGINE HAD SEIZED UP, RESULTING IN AN INCIDENT THAT TOOK PLACE BACK IN JULY 2019. THE ENGINE THAT WAS INSTALLED WAS OVERHAULED IN OCTOBER 2009 AND HAD BEEN PICKLED AND PRESERVED UNTIL IT WAS PURCHASED AND INSTALLED ON THIS AIRCRAFT. THE ENGINE HAD ONLY BEEN OPERATED FOR RUN UP, TEST FLIGHTS, AND THE TRIP FROM PARIS, TX TO RUSK COUNTY AIRPORT (HENDERSON, TX), SINCE IT WAS INSTALLED.

THE PILOT IN COMMAND POSSES A STUDENT PILOT CERTIFICATE AND A DENIED MEDICAL (MEDICAL DATE 08/03/2019).

## 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 CEN20LA383](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20LA383), Sep 5, 2020: Stearman A75N1(PT17) (N373VU), Henderson, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain proper airspeed, resulting in an aerodynamic stall after takeoff.

## Other reports on N373VU (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 20190718012049I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190718012049I), Jul 18, 2019: Boeing A75N1(PT17) (N373VU), Paris, TX, Minor damage. The incident pilot was flying his aircraft in the traffic pattern around the Paris, Texas airport (prx) when he experience an engine failure. The pilot elected…

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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