# NTSB CHI01LA321: Boeing Stearman B75N1, N47964, Carbondale, IL, September 23, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 22, 2001, 19:40 local (Sep 23, 2001, 00:40 UTC) - Place: Carbondale, IL - Coordinates: 37.719917, -89.209625 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.7199&lon=-89.2096&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 25, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - Springfield FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 53514 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI01LA321 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/53514/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI01LA321 ## Probable cause The pilot misjudged the proper alignment with the landing area. Contributing to the accident was the light conditions. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - proper alignment - misjudged, pilot in command (cause) - light condition - night (contributing factor) - terrain condition - crop (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot was attempting a night landing on a sod area to the right side of the runway and landed approximately 150 feet to the right of the sod area in a cornfield. The pilot reported, "Because of ditch to left and low light conditions approach was to right of center of sod. Approach was 35 yards too far to right and when ground was in sight for landing, the tassels of a cornfield were mistaken for grass runway. A normal 3 point full stall landing was made to the tops of corn, proceeding for 100 feet and a very slow pitch over onto nose and back." According to an almanac of sun data, the sun set at 1854 and the end of civil twilight was at 1920. The Southern Illinois Airport Authority (SIAA) approved takeoff and landing operations on the sod area adjacent to runway 36R for two specific pilot/aircraft combinations. The memorandum did not have any additional limitations or provisions, including the restriction of operations after civil twilight. Subsequent to the accident, the SIAA mandated that all flight operations on the sod area would be during daylight hours only. ## Factual narrative On September 22, 2001, at 1940 central daylight time, a Boeing Stearman B75N1, N47964, owned and piloted by a commercial pilot, sustained substantial damage during a landing in a cornfield, which was adjacent to a sod area that ran parallel to runway 36R (6,506 feet by 100 feet, asphalt surface) at the Southern Illinois Airport (MDH), Carbondale, Illinois. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The flight was operating under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 and was not on a flight plan. The pilot and his single passenger reported no injuries. The flight departed Shelby County Airport, Shelbyville, Illinois, at 1910. According to the pilot's written statement, he was attempting to land on the sod area to the right side of runway 36R. The pilot reported, "Because of ditch to left and low light conditions approach was to right of center of sod. Approach was 35 yards too far to right and when ground was in sight for landing, the tassels of a cornfield were mistaken for grass runway. A normal 3 point full stall landing was made to the tops of corn, proceeding for 100 feet and a very slow pitch over onto nose and back." According to the manager of the air traffic control tower at MDH, the pilot requested to land on the sod area to the right side of runway 36R and the aircraft actually landed in the cornfield adjacent to the sod area on a northerly heading. The tower manager approximated the perpendicular distance from the edge of runway 36R to the accident site was 350 feet. The tower manager approximated the width of the sod area adjacent to runway 36R to be 200 feet. According to an almanac of sun data, the sun set at 1854 and the end of civil twilight was at 1920. The Southern Illinois Airport Authority (SIAA) approved takeoff and landing operations on the sod area adjacent to runway 36R for two specific pilot/aircraft combinations. The SIAA issued a memorandum to the air traffic control tower that discussed the associated limitations and provisions of the operation of aircraft on the sod area. The memo states, "These individuals [the two pilots allowed to use the sod area] have been instructed as to the usable portion of that ground and have agreed to accept full responsibility for their activities in the use of that area. The SIAA views this as an 'at your own risk' operation." The memorandum did not have any additional limitations or provisions, including the restriction of operations after civil twilight. Subsequent to the accident, the SIAA mandated that flight operations on the sod area would be during daylight hours only. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N47964](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N47964), registered now, S/N 75-7540, built 1943 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Boeing Stearman B75N1 - Registry model: [Boeing B75N1](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-b75n1) (registry code 1380144) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental W670-6N](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-w670-6n) (registry code 17318, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 75-7540 - Airframe hours: 3258 - Engines: Continental W670 220 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Richard Thomas Parrish - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 9, 2001, 30 hours before - Departed: 2H0, Shelbyville, IL - Destination: MDH, Carbondale, IL - Airport: MDH, Southern Illinois Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 54; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review February 27, 2000; seat: rear; flight hours: 1,102 total, 144 in this make and model, 943 as pilot in command, 28 in the last 90 days, 21 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: 120° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: MDH ## 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 20010922027119A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010922027119A), Sep 22, 2001: Boeing B75N1, Carbondale-Murp, IL, No damage. (-23) On September 22, 2001, at approximately 1940 local time, N47964, a B-75, was flying into the Carbondale-Southern Illinois Airport with the intention of… ## Other investigations on N47964 (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 WPR13CA162](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13CA162), Mar 19, 2013: Boeing B75N1 (N47964), Mesa, AZ, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll. - [NTSB WPR12CA372](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR12CA372), Aug 18, 2012: Boeing B75N1 (N47964), Mesa, AZ, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control while landing in a crosswind. - [NTSB IAD80FIA01](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD80FIA01), Oct 28, 1979: Boeing E75 (N47964), Bealton, VA, 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.