- Date
- May 16, 2018, 10:00 local (15:00 UTC)
- Place
- Eden Prairie, MN
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N63794Boeing A75N1(PT17)
- Defining event
- Landing: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report October 24, 2018
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20180516005469A
- Case key
- 97277
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during landing in crosswind conditions.
Findings · 3
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot reported that, during a flight with a check pilot, while landing in crosswind conditions, the tailwheel-equipped biplane veered left. The pilot overcorrected with right rudder, and the biplane ground looped to the right. The biplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the biplane that would have precluded normal operation. The automated weather observation system located at the accident airport reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 230° at 7 knots. The pilot landed the airplane on runway 28R.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that, during a flight with a check-pilot, while landing in crosswind conditions, the tailwheel-equipped biplane veered to the left. The pilot overcorrected with right rudder and the biplane ground looped to the right. The biplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the biplane that would have precluded normal operation. The automated weather observation system located at the accident airport reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 230° at 7 knots. The pilot landed on runway 28R.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N63794
- Reported as
- Boeing A75N1(PT17) (UNDESIGNAT)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 75-3739
- Built
- 1942
- Airframe hours
- 1,559.59
- Engine
- Continental W670-6N, 220 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Aerobatic; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · May 4, 2018
- Departed
- FCM · Minneapolis, MN
- Destination
- FCM · Minneapolis, MN
- Airport
- FCM · Flying Cloud, runway 28R, 3,898 × 75 ft, asphalt
- Equipment
- None
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew · 2
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 73
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Commercial, Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- October 1, 2016
- Seat
- Rear
- Flight hours
- 4,030 total · 3,880 as pilot in command · 30 in the last 90 days · 15 in the last 30 days
- Role
- Check pilot
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Airline transport, Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Single-engine sea, Multi-engine land
- Medical
- Class 1, Unknown
- Seat
- Front
- Restraint
- 4-point
- Flight hours
- 8,000 total
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 230° at 7 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 72 °F, dew point 50 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.97 inHg
- Observed at
- KFCM, 1 nm away
Docket · 3
The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 2, 2018, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 2.9 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.