# NTSB ERA18LA086: Stearman B75, N62438, Zephryhills, FL, February 23, 2018

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report
- Date: February 23, 2018, 14:15 local (19:15 UTC)
- Place: Zephryhills, FL
- Coordinates: 28.228055, -82.156112 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.2281&lon=-82.1561&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Fuel related](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 96784
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA18LA086
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/96784/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96784
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA18LA086

## Probable cause

The pilot's inadequate preflight fuel planning, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and a subsequent total loss of engine power and impact with a pole during a forced landing.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Boeing B75N1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=1380144), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md)
- [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid management (probable cause); cases with it: [Boeing B75N1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=1380144), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md)
- [Object/animal/substance: pole](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022010): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Boeing B75N1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022010/cases.md?model=1380144), [All aircraft, 142 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022010/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Approach-VFR pattern final: Fuel related](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190) (defining event); cases with it: [Boeing B75N1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190/sequence.md?model=1380144), [All aircraft, 361 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190/sequence.md)
- [Emergency descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Boeing B75N1, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=1380144), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that, before departure, the airplane had 17 gallons of fuel for the flight to another airport where he planned to stop to refuel. He added that, after 45 minutes of flight and while the airplane was descending through 1,800 ft above ground level, the engine lost power. While on final approach and about 3 miles from the airport, he realized that the airplane would not reach the runway, so he chose to conduct an emergency landing on a road. Just before touchdown, the right wing impacted a traffic light pole and then the airplane impacted the ground. During postaccident examination of the airplane, no fuel was found in the fuel system. Postaccident examination of the engine (and fuel system) revealed the presence of some debris in the carburetor fuel screen and the fuel sump. Otherwise, no evidence of any preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Therefore, it is likely that the pilot’s preflight fuel planning was inadequate because he did not ensure that sufficient fuel was onboard for the flight, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.

## Factual narrative

On February 23, 2018, about 1415 eastern standard time, a Boeing B75N1, N62438, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Zephyrhills, Florida. The pilot was not injured, and the passenger sustained minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that, before departure, the airplane had 17 gallons of fuel for the flight to Zephyrhills Municipal Airport (ZPH), Zephyrhills, Florida, where he planned to stop to refuel. He added that, after 45 minutes of flight and while the airplane was descending through about 1,800 ft above ground level, the engine lost power. While on final approach and about 3 miles from the airport, he realized that the airplane would not reach the runway, so he chose to conduct an emergency landing on a road. Just before touchdown, the right wing impacted a traffic light pole and then the airplane impacted the ground. Examination of the airplane revealed that the engine and the right upper and lower wings had separated from the airplane. Examination of the engine revealed that the propeller was still attached to the engine and that the propeller blades were fractured. The No. 4 cylinder exhibited impact damage, and the engine crankshaft could not be rotated. No debris was found in the carburetor floats and bowl. A small amount of debris was found in the carburetor fuel screen. The fuel sump was still attached to the engine, and debris was found in the fuel sump screen. No fuel was found in the fuel system.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N62438](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N62438-2019-09-06), registration cancelled 2019-09-06, S/N 75-6757, built 1940 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: STEARMAN B75 (N1)
- Registry model: [Boeing B75N1](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-b75n1) (registry code 1380144) (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: 75-6757
- Year built: 1942
- Airframe hours: 5547.1
- Engines: Continental W670-6N 220 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, August 24, 2017, 25 hours before
- Departed: LEE, LEESBURG, FL
- Destination: ZPH, ZEPHYRHILLS, FL
- Airport: ZPH, Zephyrhills Muni, runway 23, 5,000 × 100 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 60; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; seat: rear; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 17,000 total, 100 in this make and model, 16,000 as pilot in command, 200 in the last 90 days, 80 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Altimeter: 30.29 inHg
- Observed at: ZPH

## 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 20180223000189A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180223000189A), Feb 23, 2018: Boeing B75N1, Zephyrhills, FL, Substantial damage. Pilot operating N62438 reported: "He was on final approach to kpzh runway 23 at the Zephyrhills airport at 1800? When his radial engine, a Continental W670-6…

## Other investigations on N62438 (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 CHI90LA256](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI90LA256), Sep 5, 1990: Boeing B75N1 (N62438), Marseilles, IL, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE VISUAL OUTLOOK TO AVOID COLLISION WITH A WIRE WHILE CONDUCTING INTENTIONAL LOW LEVEL FLIGHT.
- [NTSB CHI83LA421](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI83LA421), Sep 7, 1983: Boeing B75N1 (N62438), Galesburg, IL, substantial damage

## Docket (5 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 9, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96784. 41.9 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9052755&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20LA086%201_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Memorandum of record FAA examination (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 107 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9071549&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20Of%20Record%20FAA%20examination%20summary%20%20LA086-Rel.pdf
- Pilot's handbook for stearman airplanes (item 3, PDF, 39 pages, 5.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9053161&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%27s%20Handbook%20for%20Stearman%20Airplanes%20Models%20N2S-1,%20N2S-2%20and%20N2S-3-Rel.pdf
- W670 aircraft engine manual (item 4, PDF, 141 pages, 34.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9051803&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=W670%20aircraft%20engine%20manual-Rel.pdf
- Photo array (item 5, PDF, 3 pages, 572 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9052806&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20array%20LA086-Rel.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.

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