CHI00LA195

The pilot said he took off from Ozark, Arkansas, with the intent of landing at Sedalia, Missouri. "About 150 miles into the flight, [the] engine started missing. It would miss, then run a while, then miss again. Over Windsor, Missouri, [the] engine started missing continually." The pilot said that he saw an "X-out strip" north of Windsor. He said made a low pass over the field. "[The] field was rough but I felt I did not have any choice." The pilot touched down on the left side of the runway. "I believe I hit something as [the] plane immediately stopped and went over." Examination of the airplane revealed 3-1/2 gallons of fuel in the airplane's fuel tanks. Examination of the engine and remaining airplane systems revealed no anomalies.

On July 13, 2000, at 1630 central daylight time (cdt), a Boeing Stearman A75N1(PT17), N53131, operated by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage when the airplane nosed over during a precautionary landing at the Windsor Municipal Airport, Windsor, Missouri. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was being conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. There was no flight plan on file. The pilot sustained serious injuries. The airplane was on a cross-country flight with its final destination being Oshkosh, Wisconsin.

In his written statement, the pilot said he took off from Ozark, Arkansas, with the intent of landing at Sedalia, Missouri. "About 150 miles into the flight, [the] engine started missing. It would miss, then run a while, then miss again. Over Windsor, Missouri, [the] engine started missing continually." The pilot said that he saw an "X-out strip" north of Windsor. He said made a low pass over the field. "[The] field was rough but I felt I did not have any choice." The pilot touched down on the left side of the runway. "I believe I hit something as [the] plane immediately stopped and went over."

A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the airplane at the scene and found it resting inverted on the runway. Preceding the airplane in succession, were 15 parallel-running slashes in the runway surface. The airplane's engine was broken off at the engine mounts. The propeller showed torsional bending, chordwise scratches, and curled blade tips. The right wing tip of the top wing was crushed upward and aft. The tops of the vertical stabilizer and rudder were crushed downward. Flight control continuity was confirmed. After up-righting the airplane, 3-1/2 gallons of fuel were drained from the airplane's fuel tanks. Examination of the engine, engine controls, and airplane systems revealed no anomalies.