# NTSB ERA12CA533: Stearman M-2, N9055, Robbinsville, NJ, August 24, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 24, 2012, 12:00 local (16:00 UTC) - Place: Robbinsville, NJ - Coordinates: 40.21389, -74.601669 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.2139&lon=-74.6017&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report December 11, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 84812 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA12CA533 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/84812/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84812 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12CA533 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Stearman M-2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=8560209), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Stearman M-2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=8560209), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Stearman M-2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=8560209), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Stearman M-2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=8560209), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot, when the tailwheel-equipped airplane touched down during landing, it began to veer to the left. He attempted to straighten the airplane by applying right brake, but the airplane continued to the left, ground looped, and then came to rest inverted, which resulted in substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative According to the pilot, when the tailwheel equipped airplane touched down during landing, it began to veer to the left. He attempted to straighten the subsequent landing roll by applying right brake, but the airplane continued to the left, ground looped, and then came to rest inverted, which resulted in substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9055](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9055), registered now, S/N 1005, built 1929 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: STEARMAN AIRCRAFT M-2 - Registry model: [Stearman M-2](https://openairdocs.org/model/stearman-m-2) (registry code 8560209) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1005 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney R-1690 600 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Alan C Lopez - Registered owner: Alan C Lopez - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 12, 2012, 3 hours before - Departed: N87, Robbinsville, NJ - Destination: N87, Robbinsville, NJ - Airport: N87, Trenton-Robbinsville Airport, runway 11, 4,275 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 70; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 30, 2011; seat: single; flight hours: 2,656 total, 1,500 in this make and model, 2,455 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 59 °F - Altimeter: 30.17 inHg - Observed at: TTN, 10 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 20120824017219A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120824017219A), Aug 24, 2012: Stearman Aircraft M-2, Robbinsville, NJ, Substantial damage. Upon landing on runway 11 at N87 after the wheels touched down the airplane began to swerve. A ground loop ensued and the aircraft nosed over inverted. ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 16, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84812. 3.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 552 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40377277&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - TTN Weather Observations (item 2, .PDF, 13 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40376789&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=TTN%20Weather%20Observations-Master.PDF - Photo 1: View of Damaged Airplane (Courtesy of FAA) (item 3, .PDF, 2.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40377459&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%3A%20View%20of%20Damaged%20Airplane%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.