# NTSB GAA19CA292: Stearman B75N1, N75577, Bradford, PA, May 18, 2019

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: May 18, 2019, 10:30 local (14:30 UTC)
- Place: Bradford, PA
- Coordinates: 41.803054, -78.639999 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.8031&lon=-78.6400&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 3, 2020
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 99512
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA19CA292
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/99512/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99512
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA292

## Probable cause

The passenger’s inadvertent brake application during landing, which resulted in a nose-over.

## Findings

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

- [Landing gear system: brake](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Unintentional 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)
- [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Passenger (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)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Landing: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900); cases with it: [Boeing B75N1, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=1380144), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md)
- [Landing: 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

The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, upon touchdown, the passenger seated in the front seat of the tandem-cockpit airplane "mistakenly applied full braking," and the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Factual narrative

The pilot of the tailwheel equipped airplane reported that upon touch down, the passenger seated in the front seat of the tandem cockpit airplane "mistakenly applied full braking" and the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N75577](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N75577), registered now, S/N 75-7845, built 1943 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Stearman B75N1 (3)
- Registry model: [Boeing B75N1](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-b75n1) (registry code 1380144) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental W670-6A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-w670-6a) (registry code 17317, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 75-7845
- Year built: 1943
- Airframe hours: 3143
- Engines: Continental W670-6A 220 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 8, 2019
- Departed: BFD, Bradford, PA
- Destination: BFD, Bradford, PA
- Airport: BFD, Bradford Rgnl, runway 32, 6,307 × 150 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Unknown

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 74; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review March 19, 2019; seat: rear; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 4,600 total, 350 in this make and model, 4,350 as pilot in command, 14 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 4,600 ft overcast
- Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observed at: KBFD

## 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 20190518024169A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190518024169A), May 18, 2019: Boeing B75N1, Lewis Run, PA, Substantial damage. On 5-18-19 at approximately 10:05 am at the bradford regional airport, kbfd, aircraft N75577 landed on rwy 32. Upon landing rollout the aircraft flipped over…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 27, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99512. 1.0 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 843 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40473827&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF
- Accident Photo (item 2, .PDF, 158 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40473828&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photo-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.

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