# NTSB ERA18TA179: Stearman B75, N52584, Lexington, NC, June 25, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Final report - Date: June 25, 2018, 11:45 local (15:45 UTC) - Place: Lexington, NC - Coordinates: 35.784442, -80.298889 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.7844&lon=-80.2989&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, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 5, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 97571 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA18TA179 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/97571/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97571 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA18TA179 ## Probable cause The pilot’s overapplication of the wheel brakes during landing, which resulted in a nose-over. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Boeing B75N1, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=1380144), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Boeing B75N1, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=1380144), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md) - [Landing gear system: brake](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Boeing B75N1, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242/cases.md?model=1380144), [All aircraft, 297 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: surface speed/braking](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062045): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Boeing B75N1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062045/cases.md?model=1380144), [All aircraft, 238 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062045/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: [Boeing B75N1, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=1380144), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Boeing B75N1, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=1380144), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Boeing B75N1, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=1380144), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis During the second wheel landing of the flight and shortly after the tailwheel touched down on the runway, the airplane drifted right. The commercial pilot attempted to stop the drift by applying the wheel brakes. Subsequently, the airplane nosed over. The right wing, rudder, and vertical stabilizer sustained substantial damage. During a postaccident interview, the pilot stated that he "got on [the] brakes a little harder than I should have." Examination of the landing gear assembly and rudder control linkages did not reveal any evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Therefore, it is likely the pilot's overapplication of the brakes resulted in the nose-over. ## Factual narrative On June 25, 2018, about 1145 eastern daylight time, a Stearman B75N1, N52584, was substantially damaged when it nosed over during landing at Davidson County Airport (EXX), Lexington, North Carolina. The airline transport pilot sustained minor injuries and the passenger was not injured. The airplane was operated by the pilot as a personal flight conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local flight.According to the pilot, during the second wheel landing of the flight, shortly after the tailwheel touched down on runway 24, the airplane drifted to the right. He attempted to stop the drift, and as the airplane approached the right edge of the runway, he applied the wheel brakes. Subsequently, the airplane nosed over on the runway. The right wing, rudder, and vertical stabilizer sustained substantial damage. During a postaccident interview, the pilot stated he "got on [the] brakes a little harder than I should have" as the airplane drifted toward the grass. According to a witness who was at the airport in the ramp area, he heard "a faint sound of screeching tires." As he looked up, he observed the airplane "pitch nose forward" and nose over on the runway. During postaccident examinations by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, while the airplane was at the accident site inverted, the main landing gear wheels and tailwheels rotated freely when moved by hand. The tailwheel was found locked, which was consistent with its control lever in the cockpit. The tailwheel locking mechanism functioned normally when the lever was moved to the unlock and lock positions. The push-pull control linkages were examined from the rudder pedals to the tailwheel and rudder surface, and no anomalies were noted. According to FAA airman records, the pilot held an airline transport pilot certificate with a rating for airplane multi-engine land. He also held a commercial pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single-engine land, helicopter, and instrument helicopter. His most recent first-class medical certificate was issued in March 2018. He reported that he had accumulated 30,000 total flight hours, and 350 total flight hours in the accident make and model airplane. According to FAA airworthiness records, the two-seat, single-engine, bi-wing, tailwheel airplane was manufactured in 1941. It was equipped with a Lycoming R-680-13 engine. The most recent annual inspection was completed in October 2017. The weather conditions reported at 1155 at EXX, included calm wind, visibility 10 statute miles, clear skies, temperature 29°C, and dew point 21°C. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N52584](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N52584), registered now, S/N 75-6955, built 1941 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: STEARMAN B75 (N1) - Registry model: [Boeing B75N1](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-b75n1) (registry code 1380144) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental W670 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-w670-series) (registry code 17018, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 75-6955 - Year built: 1941 - Airframe hours: 3282 - Engines: Lycoming R-680-13 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 27, 2017 - Departed: EXX, Lexington, NC - Destination: EXX, Lexington, NC - Airport: EXX, Davidson County, runway 24, 5,004 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 69; injuries: minor; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 1, 2017; seat: rear; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 30,000 total, 350 in this make and model, 25,000 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 30.11 inHg - Observed at: EXX ## 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 20180625013659A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180625013659A), Jun 25, 2018: Boeing B75N1, Lexington, NC, Substantial damage. On second landing, (wheel landing) the aircraft tracked straight until the tail wheel touched the ground and the plane started tracking to the right of the… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 22, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97571. 5.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40467485&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - FAA Inspector Statement (item 2, .PDF, 25 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40467486&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statement-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation (Pilot in Command) (item 3, .PDF, 84 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40467487&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20(Pilot%20in%20Command)-Master.PDF - Witness Statement (item 4, .PDF, 210 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40467488&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statement-Master.PDF - Photo Array (item 5, .PDF, 3 photos, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40467489&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20Array-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.