# NTSB GAA15CA205: Boeing B75N1, N5820V, Shelter Island, NY, July 25, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 25, 2015, 10:30 local (14:30 UTC) - Place: Shelter Island, NY - Coordinates: 41.071666, -72.326667 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.0717&lon=-72.3267&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report December 3, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 91674 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA15CA205 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/91674/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91674 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15CA205 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain pitch control during the landing roll, resulting 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) - [Performance/control parameters: pitch control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Boeing B75N1, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md?model=1380144), [All aircraft, 526 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md) - [Aircraft capability: cG/weight distribution](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061040): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained; cases with it: [Boeing B75N1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061040/cases.md?model=1380144), [All aircraft, 66 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061040/cases.md) - [Communication (personnel): lack of communication](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063510): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot; cases with it: [Boeing B75N1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063510/cases.md?model=1380144), [All aircraft, 84 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063510/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 visual reference](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/402); cases with it: [Boeing B75N1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/402/sequence.md?model=1380144), [All aircraft, 242 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/402/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) (defining event); 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 According to the pilot of the tailwheel-equipped bi-plane, during the landing roll, landing as number three in a flight of three, on a turf runway, he lost sight of the airplane ahead, he relaxed the stick, the tail came up, and the airplane nosed over. The pilot reported that he was unable to see beyond mid-field due to the crown in the runway, and "became concerned with the actual location of the other aircraft." The pilot reported that he allowed the airplane's tail to rise six to eight inches, and as he applied the brakes, the center of gravity shifted forward due to the 40 gallons of fuel in the bi-plane's upper wing. The airplane nosed over and sustained substantial damage to the rudder, empennage, and top wings. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or anomalies prior to or during the flight that would have prevented normal operation. ## Factual narrative According to the pilot of the tailwheel-equipped bi-plane, during the landing roll, as number three in a flight of three, on a turf runway, he lost sight of the airplane ahead, he relaxed the stick, the tail came up, and the airplane nosed over. The pilot reported that he was unable to see beyond mid-field due to the crown in the runway, and "became concerned with the actual location of the other aircraft." The pilot reported that he allowed the airplane's tail to rise six to eight inches, and as he applied the brakes, the center of gravity shifted forward due to the 40 gallons of fuel in the bi-plane's upper wing. The airplane nosed over and sustained substantial damage to the rudder, empennage, and top wings. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or anomalies prior to or during the flight that would have prevented normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5820V](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5820V), registered now, S/N 75-7728, built 1943 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BOEING B75N1 (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: 75-7728 - Year built: 1943 - Airframe hours: 3844 - Engines: Continental W670 220 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Fritts Robert E - Registered owner: Fritts Robert E - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 1, 2015 - Departed: HWV, Brookhaven, NY - Destination: 49NY, Shelter Island, NY - Airport: 49NY, Westmoreland, runway 3, 1,400 × 200 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 88; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, waiver time limited special; last flight review March 1, 2015; seat: rear; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 3,141 total, 1,141 in this make and model, 3,141 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 6 knots - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 30.03 inHg - Observed at: KMTP, 18 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 20150725015129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150725015129A), Jul 25, 2015: Boeing B75N1, Shelter Island, NY, Substantial damage. Contacted the pilot[privacy data omitted]. [privacy data omitted] Stated the following narrative of the accident: The aircraft is normally based at his hangar… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 17, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91674. 737 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 593 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40434023&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Memorandum for Record - Telephone Interview, Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 144 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40434025&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20-%20Telephone%20Interview,%20Pilot-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.