# NTSB ERA10CA465: Stearman E75, N1370V, Jackson, GA, September 4, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 4, 2010, 09:07 local (13:07 UTC) - Place: Jackson, GA - Coordinates: 33.321388, -83.909721 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.3214&lon=-83.9097&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 13, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 77195 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA10CA465 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/77195/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77195 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10CA465 ## Probable cause The pilot's diverted attention toward an unsecured engine cowl door after takeoff which resulted in his failure to maintain airspeed and altitude. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s inadequate preflight inspection of the airplane. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Boeing E75, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=1380120), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: task monitoring/vigilance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Boeing E75, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520/cases.md?model=1380120), [All aircraft, 330 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520/cases.md) - [Inspection: preflight inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Boeing E75, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md?model=1380120), [All aircraft, 551 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900); cases with it: [Boeing E75, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=1380120), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) (defining event); cases with it: [Boeing E75, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=1380120), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Boeing E75, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=1380120), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot, after takeoff, at an altitude of 100 feet above the ground, the engine’s right side cowling door became unsecured. He stated that the door was banging in the air flapping onto the top of the cowling. As the pilot began to maneuver toward the airport to land, the cowling started to move to the closed position, and the pilot attempted to further close the door with rudder input. The pilot stated that he was fixated on keeping the cowling closed and inadvertently let the airspeed slow to the point that the airplane started to descend rapidly. The pilot applied full power to recover, but did not have enough altitude to regain flying speed. The airplane impacted trees, resulting in substantial damage to the upper and lower wings. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with the airplane. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the cowling camlocks and found them to be in good condition. ## Factual narrative According to the pilot, after takeoff, at an altitude of 100 feet, the engine’s right side cowling door became unsecured. He stated that the door was flopping wildly and "banging into the air intake on top of the cowling. As the pilot began to maneuver toward the airport to land, the cowling started to move to the closed position, and the pilot attempted to further close the door with some slight rudder input. The pilot stated that he was fixated on keeping the cowling closed and let the airspeed slow to the point that the airplane started to sink. The pilot applied full power to recover, but did not have enough altitude to regain flying speed. The airplane impacted trees, resulting in substantial damage to the upper and lower wings. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with the airplane. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the cowling camlocks and found them to be in good condition. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1370V](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1370V), registered now, S/N 75-5185, built 1943 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: STEARMAN E75 (N1) - Registry model: [Boeing E75](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-e75) (registry code 1380120) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming R680-4P-B4](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-r680-4p-b4) (registry code 41542, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 75-5185 - Airframe hours: 9163 - Engines: Continental W670-6N 220 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: James G Ratliff - Registered owner: James G Ratliff - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 1, 2010 - Departed: 62GA, Jackson, GA - Destination: THA, Tullahoma, TN - Airport: 62GA, Seven Lakes Airport, runway 18, 2,900 × 130 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 66; injuries: none; airline transport, flight engineer; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 28, 2010; seat: rear; flight hours: 22,920 total, 1,300 in this make and model, 14,130 as pilot in command, 11 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 340° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 30.02 inHg - Observed at: OPN, 28 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 20100904048109A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100904048109A), Sep 4, 2010: Boeing E75, Jackson, GA, Substantial damage. During climb phase of flight the aircraft stalled at approxiametly 100 feet AGL and came to rest in woods off the southern end of the runway. ## Other investigations on N1370V (1) 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 ERA13LA054](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13LA054), Nov 10, 2012: Boeing E75 (N1370V), Williamson, GA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The inadequate visual lookout by the pilots of both airplanes, which resulted in a midair collision. ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 19, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77195. 2.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 419 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40337517&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Memorandum for Record - FAA (item 2, .PDF, 25 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40337516&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20-%20FAA-Master.PDF - Photo of Wreckage (Courtesy of FAA) (item 3, .PDF, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40337515&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20of%20Wreckage%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.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. --- 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.