# NTSB CEN20LA383: Stearman A75N1(PT17), N373VU, Henderson, TX, September 5, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: September 5, 2020, 14:30 local (19:30 UTC) - Place: Henderson, TX - Coordinates: 32.153331, -94.799446 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.1533&lon=-94.7994&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 101923 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN20LA383 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101923/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101923 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20LA383 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain proper airspeed, resulting in an aerodynamic stall after takeoff. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Boeing A75N1(PT17), 33 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=1380134), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Boeing A75N1(PT17), 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=1380134), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Boeing A75N1(PT17), 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=1380134), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) ## Analysis After about 2.5 hours of uneventful flight, the pilot landed the airplane for a fuel stop. About 20 minutes later, the pilot took off to continue the trip. Upon takeoff, shortly after rotation, the pilot noted that the airplane seemed to be “mushy,” even though the engine was “screaming,” as if it were producing power. He stated that the airplane “seemed to be hanging from the propeller.” The pilot initiated a left turn to return to the runway and decided to level off. After leveling off, the tail of the airplane impacted trees and the airplane went straight down. The passenger got a glimpse at the instruments, and the airspeed indicator showed about “sixty” when the airplane hit the trees. A witness observed the airplane take off and climb to about 150 feet. He thought that the engine appeared to lose power, but it was still running. He saw the airplane turn to the left and appeared to stall. Examination of the airframe and engine did not reveal any pre-impact anomalies. One of the wooden propeller blades was shattered, consistent with rotation at impact. The wreckage was found amidst trees, nose down, consistent with a low inertia impact. It is likely that the pilot initiated a turn at too low an airspeed and the airplane stalled after takeoff. ## Factual narrative On September5, 2020, about 1430 central daylight time, a Stearman A75N1 (PT17), N373VU, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Henderson, Texas. The pilot and 1 passenger sustained minor injuries. The airplane was being operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 personal flight. According to the pilot, he sold the airplane and was flying it from Paris, Texas, to Cleveland Texas, for delivery to the buyer. Everything went well on the flight from Paris, Texas, and he landed the airplane at Rusk County Airport (RFI), Henderson Texas, for a fuel stop. The airplane was refueled with about 20 gallons of fuel about 20 minutes prior to takeoff. Upon takeoff from RFI, shortly after rotation, the pilot noted that the airplane seemed to be “mushy,” even though the engine was “screaming,” as if it were producing power. He stated that the airplane “seemed to be hanging from the propeller.” The pilot initiated a left turn to return to the runway and decided to level off. After leveling off, the tail of the airplane impacted trees and the airplane went straight down. The passenger reported noticing after takeoff that the airplane was turning left but the right wing kept going up. The pilot told her to get down. She looked down and all she saw below was trees. She said that she got a glimpse at the instruments, and the airspeed indicator showed about “sixty” when the airplane hit the trees. A witness observed the airplane taxiing on the ramp prior to takeoff. He observed the airplane takeoff from runway 35 and climb to about 150 feet. He thought that the engine appeared to lose power, but it was still running. He saw the airplane turn to the left and appeared to stall. The airplane then disappeared behind a tree line (see figure). Figure. Accident Proximity to Runway 35. The airplane wreckage was found amidst trees in a densely wooded area to the left of the departure end of runway 35 at RFI. The airplane was about 80º nose down, with the empennage resting against a tree. The upper and lower wings were substantially damaged, and the forward section of the fuselage and engine compartment were buckled. The aft section part of the empennage and vertical stabilizer were buckled. Fuel smell was present at the accident site. Visual examination of the engine did not show any obvious pre-impact anomalies. Visual examination of the flight controls did not reveal any pre-impact anomalies. One of the wooden propeller blades was splintered consistent with rotation at impact, and one blade was broken at the tip. A fuel sample taken from the source at RFI tested normal. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N373VU](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N373VU-2023-02-04), registration cancelled 2023-02-04, S/N 75-970 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Stearman A75N1(PT17) (Undesignat) - Registry model: [Boeing A75N1(PT17)](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-a75n1-pt17) (registry code 1380134) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental W670 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-w670-series) (registry code 17018, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 75-970 - Year built: 1940 - Airframe hours: 6400 - Engines: Continental W670-6N 240 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 10, 2020, 1 hours before - Departed: KRFI, Henderson, TX - Destination: KRFI, Henderson, TX - Airport: KRFI, Rusk County, runway 35, 4,006 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 55; injuries: minor; student; seat: rear; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 100 total, 25 in this make and model, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 20° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 75 °F - Altimeter: 30.25 inHg - Observed at: RFI ## 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 20200905012739A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200905012739A), Sep 5, 2020: Boeing A75N1(PT17), Henderson, TX, Substantial damage. 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.… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 19, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101923. 1.2 MB in all. - Memorandum for the record pilot statement summary CEN20LA393 (item 1, PDF, 1 page, 150 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13034592&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20the%20Record%20Pilot%20Statement%20Summary%20CEN20LA393_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for the record passenger statement summary CEN20LA393 (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 146 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13034390&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20the%20Record%20Passenger%20Statement%20Summary%20CEN20LA393_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for the record witness statement summary CEN20LA393 (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 146 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13034738&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20the%20Record%20Witness%20Statement%20Summary%20CEN20LA393_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for the record wreckage examination findings CEN20LA393 (item 4, PDF, 2 pages, 181 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13034272&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20the%20Record%20Wreckage%20Examination%20Findings%20CEN20LA393_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo array CEN20LA383 (item 5, PDF, 2 pages, 562 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13034602&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array%20CEN20LA383-Rel.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.