- Date
- April 14, 2003, 13:15 local (17:15 UTC)
- Place
- Gainesville, GA
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N4908NBoeing Stearman A75L3
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 28, 2006
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- Atlanta FSDO
- FAA report
- 20030414008519A
- Case key
- 56815
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll resulting in an inadvertent ground loop.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot and passenger departed for a sightseeing/pleasure flight over Lake Lanier, with intentions to stop in Gainesville for refreshments. According to the pilot, he checked the prevailing wind information for the approach at the airport. The prevailing winds were reported at 140 degree at six knots; the pilot chose runway 11 for the approach and landing. The pilot reported that during the landing roll, the airplane ground looped to the left. No mechanical or flight control problems with the airplane were reported by the pilot prior to the accident.
Factual narrative
On April 14, 2003, at 1315 eastern daylight time, a Boeing Stearman, A75L3, N4908N, registered to and operated by a commercial pilot, ground looped during landing roll at Lee Gilmer Memorial Airport, Gainesville, Georgia. The personal flight was operated under the provision of Title 14 CFR Part 91 and visual flight rules. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The airplane was substantially damaged, and the pilot and passenger were uninjured. The flight departed Peachtree-Dekalb Airport, Dekalb, Georgia on April 14, 2003 at 1230.
The pilot and passenger departed for a sightseeing/pleasure flight over Lake Lanier, with intentions to stop in Gainesville for refreshments. According to the pilot, he checked the prevailing wind information for the approach at the airport. The prevailing winds were reported at 140 degree at six knots; the pilot chose runway 11 for the approach and landing. The pilot reported that during the landing roll, the airplane ground looped to the left.
No mechanical or flight control problems with the airplane were reported by the pilot prior to the accident. Examination of the airplane revealed the wings were buckled at the main spar, and the left main landing gear separated from the airframe. On page 4 of the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, optional Recommendations section, the pilot of the accident airplane stated that "additional training in type for pilot" could have prevented the accident.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N4908N
- Reported as
- Boeing Stearman A75L3
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- A75l3
- Airframe hours
- 3,978
- Engine
- Continental R-670-5, 220 hp, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Jeff Clark
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Aerobatic
- Last inspection
- Annual · June 1, 2002 · 0 hours before
- Departed
- PDK · Atlanta, GA
- Airport
- GVL · Lee Gilmer Memorial, runway 11, 4,001 × 100 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 28
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Last flight review
- August 4, 2002
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 420 total · 21 in this make and model · 346 as pilot in command · 31 in the last 90 days · 13 in the last 30 days · 4 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 110° at 7 knots
- Visibility
- 2 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 75 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.30 inHg
- Observed at
- GVL
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.