# NTSB CEN25LA025: Boeing A75N1, N62394, Denton, TX, October 21, 2024

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: October 21, 2024, 11:00 local (16:00 UTC)
- Place: Denton, TX
- Coordinates: 33.201961, -97.199097
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.2020&lon=-97.1991&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA, North TX FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 195363
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN25LA025
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/195363/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=195363
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA025

## Probable cause

The partial loss of engine power during the initial climb and the pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the forced landing with a tailwind.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Power plant](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057100): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Boeing A75N1(PT17), 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057100/cases.md?model=1380134), [All aircraft, 198 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057100/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 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)
- [Wind: tailwind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Boeing A75N1(PT17), 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md?model=1380134), [All aircraft, 594 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md)
- [Wind: tailwind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Ability to respond/compensate (probable cause); cases with it: [Boeing A75N1(PT17), 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md?model=1380134), [All aircraft, 594 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/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 engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [Boeing A75N1(PT17), 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=1380134), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Boeing A75N1(PT17), 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=1380134), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); cases with it: [Boeing A75N1(PT17), 32 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=1380134), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Boeing A75N1(PT17), 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=1380134), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that the airplane had a lower-than-expected climb rate during initial climb which was followed by a rough running engine at all power settings. The pilot entered a turn to remain close to the airport during which the radial engine quit momentarily before it resumed running rough. The pilot declared an emergency with the tower controller and was cleared to land on the runway, which resulted in a tailwind condition. The pilot was unable to maintain directional control during the landing roll which resulted in a ground loop and a runway excursion. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both ailerons and the aft spar of both lower wings.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N62394](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N62394-2026-02-06), registration cancelled 2026-02-06, S/N 75-2352 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BOEING A75N1 (PT-17)
- 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: 75-2352
- Year built: 1941
- Airframe hours: 2306
- Engines: Continental W670 220 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Aerobatic; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 18, 2024
- Departed: KDTO, Denton, TX
- Destination: KDTO, Denton, TX
- Airport: DTO, Denton Enterprise Airport, runway 36R, 7,002 × 150 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: ADS-B, Handheld GPS

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 54; injuries: none; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 5, 2024; seat: rear; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 8,971 total, 114 in this make and model, 8,778 as pilot in command, 78 in the last 90 days, 23 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 200° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter: 30.24 inHg
- Observed at: KDTO
- METAR: KDTO 211553Z 20009KT 10SM CLR 23/12 A3024 RMK AO2 SLP234 T02330117

## 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 20241021022209A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20241021022209A), Oct 21, 2024: Boeing A75N1(PT17), Denton, TX, Substantial damage. Aircraft experianced a rough running engine just after take-off from runway 18L. The engine shut off for approximately 1 second and began to run again roughly.…

## Other investigations on N62394 (3)

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 SEA77DYK16](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA77DYK16), Jun 10, 1977: Boeing PT-17 (N62394), Lakeview, OR, destroyed
- [NTSB FTW75DQG52](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW75DQG52), Apr 17, 1975: Boeing A75N1 (N62394), Dougherty, TX, substantial damage
- [NTSB DEN68D0264](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN68D0264), Apr 30, 1968: Boeing A75N1 (N62394), Byers, CO, substantial damage

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 21, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=195363. 2.5 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17929919&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CEN25LA025%20-%206120_1_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 2, PDF, 4 pages, 3 photos, 928 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17932128&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CEN25LA025%20-%20Photo%20Summary-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.

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