# Accident 20230722012839A: Boeing A75N1, Red Lodge, MT, July 22, 2023

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 22, 2023, 10:40 local time
- Place: Red Lodge, MT
- Airport: Red Lodge
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 45.1848° N, 109.2577° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.1848&lon=-109.2577&mi=10
- Aircraft: N53132, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N53132) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Boeing A75N1 (registry code 1380165, https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-a75n1) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Pratt & Whitney R-985 series (registry code 52008, https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r-985-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BOEING A75N1
- Reported engine: P&W R-985 SERIES
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport
- Pilot flight hours: 19,252 total, 105 in this make and model, 117 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR23LA284](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA284) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230722012839A

## Narrative

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

DESCRIPTION OF THE DEVIATION:

WHILE OPERATING A STEARMAN AIRPLANE ON A VFR FLIGHT PLAN AND UPON LANDING ON THE GRASS STRIP RWY 16 AT THE RED LODGE, MT AIRPORT KRED THE PILOT IN COMMAND LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT AFTER TOUCH DOWN RESULTING IN A GROUND LOOP INTO A BARBED WIRE FENCE BRACE PARALELL TO THE RUNWAY RESULTING IN SUBSTATIAL DAMAGE TO THE PROP, LEFT WINGS AND FUSELAGE OF THE AIRCRAFT.

CAUSAUL AND/OR CONTRIBUTING FACTORS:

THE PILOT STATED THAT “I HAD A VERY STABLE APPROACH AND SMOOTH LANDING.  EVERYTHING WAS GOING AS PLANNED.  THE AIRCRAFT WAS SLOWING AND THE TAIL WAS READY TO COME DOWN.  I LET THE TAIL FALL TO GROUND AND WAS PREPARING MOVE MY FEET UP TO THE BRAKES.  A GUST FROM THE SW PUSHED THE TAIL AND I COUNTERED WILL FULL RIGHT RUDDER.  IT WASN’T ENOUGH AND WE DEPARTED THE GRASS RUNWAY. IT WAS A CLASSIC STEARMAN GROUND LOOP!!  THERE WAS NOTHING TO DO AT THIS POINT BUT TO TRY AND KEEP THE STEARMAN UPRIGHT AND ON ITS MAIN WHEELS.  I WAS ABLE TO DO THAT WITH SOME VERY AGGRESSIVE DIFFERENTIAL BRAKING AND AND RUDDER INPUTS. WE CAME TO A STOP.   THERE WERE NO INJURIES, FUEL LEAKS OR FIRE.” THE INVESTIGATION FOUND NO EVIDENCE CONTRARY TO THE PILOT’S EXPLANATION OF THE CONTRIBUTING FACTOR OF A WIND GUST THAT COULD NOT BE ADEQUATELY COMPENSATED FOR WITH PROPER CONTROL INPUTS.

NO ATC ACTIONS CONTRIBUTORY TO THE EVENT.

NO RECOMMENDATIONS FOR SYSTEMIC CORRECTIVE ACTION.

ACTION TAKEN TO CORRECT PROBLEM AND PREVENT REOCCURANCE:

COMPLIANCE ACTION – COUNSELING. THE PILOT WAS COUNSELED ON THE TENDANCIES OF CONVENTIONAL GEAR AIRCRAFT ON UNIMPROVED SURFACES AND THE EFFECTS OF WIND ON TAKE-OFF, LANDING AND GROUND OPERATIONS IN THESE AIRCRAFT.

SAS ID: NM05202302008

## 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 WPR23LA284](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA284), Jul 22, 2023: Boeing A75N1 (N53132), Red Lodge, MT, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s loss of directional control during landing with wind gusts, which resulted in a ground loop and collision with a fence.

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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