# NTSB IAD96LA113: Boeing Stearman E75N1, N55PR, Goshen, OH, July 6, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 6, 1996, 16:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: Goshen, OH - Coordinates: 39.220134, -84.089805 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.2201&lon=-84.0898&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 16, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 28080 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD96LA113 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/28080/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD96LA113 ## Probable cause the pilot's failure to maintain adequate clearance from terrain during short final approach/landing flare. The hot temperature was a related factor. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown - weather condition - temperature,high (contributing factor) - terrain condition - ditch - altitude/clearance - not obtained/maintained, pilot in command (cause) - Main gear collapsed, landing - roll - landing gear,main gear - overload ## Analysis The pilot reported that she was giving a friend a ride in the airplane, and that they were coming in for a landing on runway 24. She stated: 'It was a hot day [and] I could feel the plane settle over the corn field. I was a little low so I added power coming over the field.' The pilot indicated that when she thought that she had cleared the field, she reduced the power. She reported that '...as soon as I reduced power the plane settled and clipped the edge of the ditch instead of gliding on to touch down on the numbers...I continued to land...it was a smooth, straight ahead, soft landing - except the [landing] gear was gone.' The pilot indicated that the heat produced from the corn field and ditch tend to make the airplane settle much quicker on hot summer days. There was no evidence or claim of preimpact airplane anomaly. The pilot reported that the temperature at the time of the accident was 88 degrees F. ## Factual narrative On July 6, 1996, at about 1600 eastern daylight time, a Boeing Stearman E75N1, N55PR, operated by the registered owner/private pilot, touched down short of the runway and impacted a ditch, while attempting to land at a private airstrip near Goshen, Ohio. The pilot and the one passenger reported no injuries. The airplane sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local flight, and no flight plan was filed. The pleasure flight was operated under 14 CFR Part 91, and originated from Goshen, Ohio, at approximately 1550. The pilot reported that she was giving a friend a ride in the airplane, and that they were coming in for a landing on runway 24. She stated: "It was a hot day [and] I could feel the plane settle over the corn field. I was a little low so I added power coming over the field." The pilot indicated that when she thought that she had cleared the field, she reduced the power. She stated that "...as soon as I reduced power the plane settled and clipped the edge of the ditch instead of gliding on to touch down on the numbers. I heard a thud but there was no big jolt." The pilot stated the she continued to land the airplane as usual, and that the landing was "...smooth, straight ahead, [a] soft landing - except the [landing] gear was gone." The pilot stated that "...on hot summer days, the heat generated from the corn field [and] ditch tends to make the airplane settle much quicker. It is important to shorten the base to final pattern [and] make a slightly steeper approach knowing it will sink quickly." The pilot reported that the temperature at the time of the accident was 88 degrees Fahrenheit (F.) There was no evidence or claim of preimpact aircraft anomaly. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N55PR](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N55PR), registered now, S/N 75-8788, built 1952 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Boeing Stearman E75N1 - Registry model: [Boeing E75N1](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-e75n1) (registry code 1380154) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R-985 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r-985-series) (registry code 52008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 75-8788 - Engines: Lycoming R-680-E3B 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Reed, Jeanne B. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 1, 1995, 25 hours before - Departed: OH65 - Airport: OH65, Hickory Grove, runway 24, 1,640 × 100 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 375 total, 80 in this make and model, 319 as pilot in command, 22 in the last 90 days, 19 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 5 knots - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 88 °F ## 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 19960706043949A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960706043949A), Jul 6, 1996: Boeing E75N1, Goshen, OH, Substantial damage. Landed short of private strip. Hit a ditch. Impact severed landing gear. Aircraft landed on runway sans gear. (-23) no narrative. 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.