Boeing Stearman B75N1 N66607 accident, Cape Girardeau, MO, Sep 2, 2000 · NTSB CHI00LA285

Probable cause

the pilot's improper decision to continue the flight when the fuel sight gauge indicated empty and the exhausted fuel supply. A factor was the corn crop.

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.

Loss of engine powerCruise

Fluid,fuel - exhaustionCause

In-flight planning/decision - improperPilot in commandCause

Forced landingEmergency descent/landing

On ground/water encounter with terrain/waterEmergency landing

Terrain condition - cropFactor

Analysis

The airplane experienced a loss of engine power and a forced landing was executed. The aircraft came to rest in an un-harvested cornfield. During a postaccident examination of the aircraft, no fuel could be seen in the fuel tank when looking through the fuel cap. Approximately 1 to 1-1/2 cups of fuel was drained from the right aft fuel tank drain and 2 to 3 cups were drained from the left drain. No fuel was noted in the fuel tank sight glass. No other anomalies were noted that could be associated with a preexisting condition.

Factual narrative

On September 2, 2000, at 1735 central daylight time, a Boeing Stearman model B75N1, N66607, piloted by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing, near Cape Girardeau, Missouri, following a loss of engine power while in cruise flight. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was not on a flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot and pilot rated passenger reported no injuries. The flight originated from the Greenwood-Leflore Airport (GWO), Greenwood, Mississippi at 1450 and was en route to the Cape Girardeau Regional Airport (CGI), Cape Girardeau, Missouri.

In a written statement, the owner, who was the pilot rated passenger, said that at two miles from CGI they advised the CGI Air Traffic Control Tower (ATCT) of their position as requested. He said that, "Very shortly thereafter the engine quit. Advised tower of problem. Advised CGI tower of inability to reach airport. Tower asked for intentions following above advisory to tower. Advised tower of intent to turn away from airport and land (off airport) in an unharvested cornfield." The aircraft came to rest in the cornfield.

Investigators from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) conducted a postaccident examination of the aircraft. No fuel could be seen in the fuel tank when looking through the fuel cap. Approximately 1 to 1-1/2 cups of fuel was drained from the right aft fuel tank drain and 2 to 3 cups were drained from the left drain. No fuel was noted in the fuel tank sight glass. No other anomalies were noted that could be associated with a preexisting condition.

According to FAA records, the pilot reported 125 total flight hours at his last aviation medical examination that was performed on June 21, 2000.

Aircraft

Registration: N66607
Reported as: Boeing Stearman B75N1
Category: Airplane
Serial number: 2667
Engine: Lycoming R-680-13, 300 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage: Substantial damage
Flight: Personal · Part 91
Registered owner: Vernon J. Main Jr.
Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Aerobatic
Last inspection: Annual · January 8, 2000 · 65 hours before
Departed: GWO · Greenwood, MS
Destination: CGI

N66607Registered now · Boeing B75N1S/N 75-2661 · Built 1941 Airframe modelBoeing B75N1 Engine modelPratt & Whitney R-985 seriesReciprocating

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: 37
Certificate: Private
Airplane ratings: Single-engine land
Medical: Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Seat: Front
Flight hours: 125 total

Weather

Conditions: Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind: 70° at 3 knots
Visibility: 10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling: None
Temperature: 196 °F, dew point 162 °F
Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Observed at: CGI, 2 nm away

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.

Accident 20000902012319ABoeing B75N1 · Cape Girardeau, MO(-23) On 9/2/00, mr lindsey bredemeyer was flying N66607, a Boeing B-75N1 from greenwood ms to Cape Girardeau MO, enroute to a final destination of galesburg, IL. The a/c is owned by Mr. Vernon main, who was sitting in the rear seat of a/c. at ten miles out…Sep 2, 2000 · N66607 · No damage

Other investigations on N66607 · 1

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

NTSB MKC69D0193Accident · No injuriesClosedLebanon, MOJul 10, 1968 · Substantial damage