# NTSB CEN13CA457: Stearman A75, N234X, Appleton, WI, August 1, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 1, 2013, 10:45 local (15:45 UTC) - Place: Appleton, WI - Coordinates: 44.258056, -88.51889 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.2581&lon=-88.5189&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 21, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 87672 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN13CA457 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/87672/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87672 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13CA457 ## Probable cause The pilot’s inadequate compensation for the crosswind, which resulted in a loss of directional control. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Boeing A75, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=1380108), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Boeing A75, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=1380108), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Response/compensation (probable cause); cases with it: [Boeing A75, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=1380108), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Boeing A75, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=1380108), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Boeing A75, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=1380108), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis Prior to landing, the pilot listened to the automated weather station which reported the wind out of the west at 8 knots; the pilot would land on runway 21 for a normal crosswind landing. During the landing roll, the right wing lifted suddenly, the left wing contacted the ground, and the airplane ground looped. The pilot then asked the air traffic controller what the wind was, the air traffic controller responded that the wind was at 14 knots, gusting to 19 and getting stronger. Examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the left wing. ## Factual narrative Prior to landing, the pilot listened to the automated weather station which reported the wind out of the west at 8 knots; the pilot would land on runway 21 for a normal crosswind landing. During the landing roll, the right wing lifted suddenly, the left wing contacted the ground, and the airplane ground looped. The pilot asked the air traffic controller the wind information, the air traffic controller responded that the wind was at 14 knots, gusting to 19 and getting stronger. Examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the left wing. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N234X](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N234X), registered now, S/N 75-260 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: STEARMAN A75 - Registry model: [Boeing A75](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-a75) (registry code 1380108) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming R680E series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-r680e-series) (registry code 41545, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 75-260 - Engines: LYCOMING R680E SERIES 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Air race/show, Part 91 - Operator: American Airpower Heritage Flying Museum Inc - Registered owner: American Airpower Heritage Flying Museum Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: KATW, Appleton, WI - Destination: KATW, Appleton, WI - Flight plan: Unknown - Airport: KATW, Outagamie County Regional, runway 21, 8,002 × 150 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 56; injuries: none; flight instructor, airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 14, 2013; seat: rear; flight hours: 19,273 total, 214 in this make and model, 10,202 as pilot in command, 217 in the last 90 days, 112 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 230° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 50 °F - Altimeter: 29.92 inHg - Observed at: KATW ## 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 20130801013529A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130801013529A), Aug 1, 2013: Boeing A75, Appleton, WI, Substantial damage. August 1, 2013 N234X, a Boeing/stearman A-75 operated by American heritage flying museum struck its left wing tip on landing rollout at outagamie airport… ## Other investigations on N234X (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 CEN24LA196](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA196), May 11, 2024: Boeing 75 (N234X), New Century, KS, substantial damage. Probable cause: The inability of the Boeing 75 pilot to anticipate that the Piper would stop earlier on the taxiway which resulted in the on-ground collision. ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 26, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87672. 380 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 273 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40399388&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Pilot statement (item 2, .PDF, 95 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40399389&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20statement-Redacted.PDF - Weather Reports and Records (item 3, .PDF, 13 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40399390&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-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.