# NTSB CHI01LA164: Boeing Stearman A-75, N4558N, Marissa, IL, June 8, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 8, 2001, 15:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: Marissa, IL - Coordinates: 38.250484, -89.750526 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.2505&lon=-89.7505&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 13, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA-St. Louis, Missouri-FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 53256 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI01LA164 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/53256/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI01LA164 ## Probable cause The pilot's manuever to avoid obstructions and his failure to abort takeoff. The pilot's failure to establish adequate climb, and the transmission wire are contributing factors. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Abrupt maneuver, takeoff - initial climb - aborted takeoff - not performed, pilot in command (cause) - propeller system/accessories - maneuver to avoid obstructions - attempted, pilot in command (cause) - object - wire,transmission(marked) (contributing factor) - climb - inadequate - In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The airplane was damaged while maneuvering to avoid power lines on takeoff. The airplane propeller was changed just prior to the flight. The pilot said that the airplane was not performing as expected and he didn't think he could clear the power lines. He said that he was attempting to land in a field on the left side of the 2,100 foot long grass runway when the wing tip contacted the ground and the airplane, "flipped over on it's back." The pilot said that the engine was operating as expected and the static RPM, "seemed okay." He said the airplane performance was better prior to the propeller change. ## Factual narrative On June 8, 2001, at 1500 central daylight time, a Boeing Stearman A-75, N4558N, piloted by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage during takeoff from a north-south oriented runway (2,100 feet by 150 feet, grass/turf) at the Herschel Hunter Airport in Marissa, Illinois. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The flight was operating under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot was the sole occupant and sustained no injuries. The local flight was departing at the time of the accident. In a written statement, the pilot said, "Replaced McCauley prop with fresh overhauled McCauley prop. Took airplane to end of runway [and] slowly applied power. Was two hundred feet down runway before throttle was full open. Airplane broke ground but didn't climb like normal and I was afraid I wasn't going to clear [the] high voltage power line so [I] attempted to land in field on left side of runway (land is level) and caught wing tip in turn and airplane flipped over on it's back headed the other direction. I think the prop was not set right for this airplane and wouldn't climb right." The aircraft propeller is a McCauley 41D5926 ground adjustable pitch propeller. The type certificate data sheet for the airplane states that with this propeller installed, the static rpm of the engine should be no more than 1925 rpm and no less than 1575 rpm. In a telephone interview, the pilot said that the static RPM "seemed okay" and that the engine was operating as expected. He said that the performance was better prior to the propeller change. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4558N](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4558N), registered now, S/N 75-8457 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Boeing Stearman A-75 - Registry model: [Boeing A75](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-a75) (registry code 1380108) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R-985 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r-985-series) (registry code 52008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 75-8457 - Airframe hours: 2133 - Engines: Continental W670-6A 220 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Herschel Hunter - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 2, 2001, 0 hours before - Departed: 4H7, Marissa, IL - Airport: 4H7, Herschel Hunter, runway 18, 2,100 × 150 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 75; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review March 16, 2001; seat: rear; flight hours: 4,705 total, 411 in this make and model, 4,705 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 40° at 7 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 30.05 inHg - Observed at: BLV, 20 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20010608014379A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010608014379A), Jun 8, 2001: Boeing A75, Marissa Townshi, IL, No damage. (-23) The airplane was being operated from a private grass runway. The runway is orientated north/south. There is a railroad bed about 100 yards from the end… ## Other investigations on N4558N (2) 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 GAA16CA384](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA384), Jul 17, 2016: Boeing A75 (N4558N), St. James, MO, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's loss of control while performing an aerobatic maneuver resulting in an inadvertent spin and collision with trees and terrain. - [NTSB FTW67F0562](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW67F0562), Apr 18, 1967: Boeing A-75 (N4558N), Bay City, TX, substantial damage 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.