# NTSB ATL02LA105: Stearman A75N1, N5545F, Panacea, FL, May 24, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 23, 2002, 19:30 local (May 24, 2002, 02:30 UTC) - Place: Panacea, FL - Coordinates: 29.988889, -84.395278 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.9889&lon=-84.3953&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 20, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Tampa FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 54777 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL02LA105 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54777/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54777 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL02LA105 ## Probable cause Loss of engine power due to fuel starvation resulting from fuel restriction through the fuel shutoff valve. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(partial) - nonmechanical, takeoff - initial climb - fuel system - starvation (cause) - fuel system - restricted (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency descent/landing ## Analysis Shortly after takeoff, when the airplane was approximately 100 feet above the ground, the engine lost power and quit. The pilot elected to attempt a landing on the remaining runway. The airplane collided with the runway in a 35- to 40-degree nose-down attitude. Upon further inspection, it was discovered that when the fuel shutoff valve was turned off, the valve closed completely. When the fuel shutoff valve was opened, the valve opened halfway, while indicating completely open. ## Factual narrative On May 23, 2002, at 1930 eastern daylight time, a Stearman A75N1, N5545F, registered to and owned by the pilot, collided with runway 18 shortly after takeoff from Wakulla County Airport in Panacea, Florida. The pleasure flight was operated by the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 with no flight plan filed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The airline transport pilot and his passenger received no injuries, and the airplane was substantially damaged. The flight departed Panacea, Florida, at 1928. According to the pilot, no abnormalities were noted during preflight inspection or engine run up. The pilot taxied the airplane onto the runway 18 and initiated a normal takeoff. All engine instruments were in the normal operating range, and the airplane rotated less than halfway down the 2785-foot long runway. When the airplane was approximately 100 feet above the ground, the engine began to lose power and subsequently quit. The pilot elected to attempt a landing on the remaining runway. The airplane collided with the runway in a 35- to 40-degree nose-down attitude. Examination of the airplane revealed the landing gear had sheared off and the wheels had pushed through the wings. In addition, damage had occurred to the lower left wing, both propellers, the lower left side spar, and the firewall. Examination of the fuel system revealed that when the fuel shutoff valve was turned to off position, the valve assembly closed completely. When the fuel shutoff valve was opened, the valve opened halfway, while indicating completely open. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5545F](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5545F-2013-09-25), registration cancelled 2013-09-25, S/N 75-4213, built 1942 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Stearman A75N1 - Registry model: [Boeing A75N1(PT17)](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-a75n1-pt17) (registry code 1380134) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R-985 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r-985-series) (registry code 52008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 75-4213 - Airframe hours: 3850 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney R-985 Series 450 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: John Harbison - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Aerobatic - Last inspection: Annual, August 1, 2001, 50 hours before - Departed: K2J0, Panacea, FL - Airport: K2J0, Wakulla County, runway 18, 3,500 × 150 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 39; injuries: none; flight instructor, airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, unknown; last flight review September 1, 2001; seat: rear; flight hours: 2,934 total, 26 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 100° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 30.06 inHg - Observed at: TLH, 29 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20020523011659A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020523011659A), May 23, 2002: Boeing A75N1, Panacea, FL, No damage. (.19) On may 23, 2002, at 1930 eastern daylight time, a stearman A75N1, N5545F, registered to and owned by the pilot, impacted runway 18 shortly after takeoff… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 28, 2002, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54777. 136 KB in all. - Telephone Conversation (item 1, .PDF, 55 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40165789&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Telephone%20Conversation-Master.PDF - Weather Data (item 2, .PDF, 82 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40165790&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Data-Master.PDF 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.