# NTSB ERA23LA381: Boeing B75, N46Y, Erwinna, PA, September 19, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: September 19, 2023, 13:15 local (17:15 UTC) - Place: Erwinna, PA · On Airport - Coordinates: 40.48427, -75.099616 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.4843&lon=-75.0996&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 193158 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA23LA381 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/193158/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193158 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA381 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the airplane while taking off in a crosswind. ## 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 B75, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=1380116), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Response/compensation (probable cause); cases with it: [Boeing B75, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=1380116), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Boeing B75, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=1380116), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Boeing B75, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=1380116), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was attempting to take off in a right crosswind and had the right aileron fully deflected during the takeoff roll. As the tail-wheel equipped airplane became airborne, a wind gust pushed the airplane to the left side of the runway toward a tree line. The pilot attempted to turn the airplane back into the wind, but the lower left wing contacted a tree limb. The airplane descended into trees resulting in substantial damage to the rudder and both lower wings. The pilot reported there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N46Y](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N46Y), registered now, S/N 75-1377, built 1941 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BOEING B75 - Registry model: [Boeing B75](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-b75) (registry code 1380116) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming R680-4P-B4](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-r680-4p-b4) (registry code 41542, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 75-1377 - Year built: 1941 - Airframe hours: 6249 - Engines: LYCOMING R680-17 225 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Marty Quentin G - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 6, 2023, 68 hours before - Airport: 9N1, Vansant, runway 25, 3,058 × 120 ft, grass/turf - Equipment: Handheld GPS, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 73; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 16, 2023; seat: rear; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 2,404 total, 2,048 in this make and model, 2,395 as pilot in command, 57 in the last 90 days, 41 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 290° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,400 ft broken - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: KDYL, 9 nm away - METAR: KDYL 191654Z AUTO 29006KT 10SM BKN044 22/11 A3000 ## 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 20230919014869A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230919014869A), Sep 19, 2023: Boeing B75, Erwinna, PA, Substantial damage. Airman departed runway 25 which is an upsloping runway. On rotation, the aircraft experienced a gust of wind, locally reported at 31012G16KT, that pushed the… ## Other investigations on N46Y (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 NYC78FHA34](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC78FHA34), Sep 17, 1978: Stearman PT-17 (N46Y), Pottstown, PA, substantial damage ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 9, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193158. 9.4 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 9.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16233651&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 66 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16220838&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20Statement-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 3 photos, 267 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16233631&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigative%20Photos-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. --- 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.