# NTSB LAX04CA258: Boeing A 75N1, N56416, Auburn, CA, July 11, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 11, 2004, 09:26 local (16:26 UTC) - Place: Auburn, CA - Coordinates: 38.952777, -121.075553 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.9528&lon=-121.0756&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 29, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 59624 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX04CA258 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/59624/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX04CA258 ## Probable cause the pilot undergoing instruction's overcontrol of the aircraft by his excessive use of the rudder control and failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during landing, which resulted in a ground loop. Contributing factors to the accident were the pilot undergoing instruction's lack of experience in the airplane and his overpowering the CFI on the controls. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - rudder - excessive, pilot in command (cause) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - lack of familiarity with aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor) - control interference - encountered, pilot in command(cfi) (contributing factor) - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The airplane ground looped during landing and came to rest inverted. The pilot undergoing instruction (PUI) had recently purchased the airplane. He and the certified flight instructor (CFI) departed from their airport of origin after completing one traffic pattern to a successful full stop landing. The CFI was present for insurance requirements and was also providing instruction. They proceeded to another airport nearby and setup for a landing on runway 25. The approach and initial touchdown were unremarkable. During the roll out, the PUI reduced the power and the airplane began to veer to the left. The PUI overcorrected, overpowering the CFI, and the airplane turned to the right. The left wing contacted the ground and the airplane came to rest inverted. The PUI did not report any mechanical malfunctions with the airplane prior to the accident. He had approximately 347 hours total flight time, 40 hours were in tailwheel equipped airplanes, and 5 of those hours were in the accident airplane. According to the airport manager, the winds were about 6 knots, blowing directly down the runway. ## Factual narrative On July 11, 2004, at 0926 Pacific daylight time, a Boeing A 75N1 (Stearman), N56416, ground looped during landing at the Auburn Municipal Airport, Auburn, California, and came to rest inverted. The pilot, also the registered owner, was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot undergoing instruction (PUI) and the certified flight instructor (CFI) were not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage. The airplane departed from the Lincoln Regional Airport/Karl Harder Field, Lincoln, California, at 0845 for the local area practice flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The PUI recently purchased the airplane. The CFI was present for insurance requirements and was also providing instruction. They departed from the Lincoln airport after completing one traffic pattern to a successful full stop landing. They proceeded to Auburn and setup for a landing on runway 25. The approach and initial touchdown were unremarkable. During the roll out, the PUI reduced the power and the airplane began to veer to the left. The PUI overcorrected and the airplane turned to the right. The left wing contacted the ground and the airplane came to rest inverted. The PUI felt that the CFI was on the controls during the landing; however, when he overcorrected he felt that he overpowered the CFI on the controls. Both upper wings, the left lower wing, and the rudder sustained structural damage. The PUI did not report any mechanical malfunctions with the airplane prior to the accident. The PUI had approximately 347 hours total flight time, 40 hours were in tailwheel equipped airplanes, and 5 of those hours were in the Stearman. The airport manager reported that the winds were about 6 knots blowing directly down the runway. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N56416](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N56416), registered now, S/N 75-914, built 1941 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Boeing A 75N1 - Registry model: [Boeing A75N1](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-a75n1) (registry code 1380165) (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: 75-914 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney R-985 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Steven Benjamin - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: LHM, Lincoln, CA - Destination: AUN, Auburn, CA - Airport: AUN, Auburn, runway 25 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 45; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3; flight hours: 347 total, 5 in this make and model, 43 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days - Flight instructor; age 67; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2; flight hours: 4,100 total, 45 in this make and model, 30 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day ## 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 20040711018329A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040711018329A), Jul 11, 2004: Boeing A75N1, Auburn, CA, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot misapplied the brakes during landing which caused the aircraft to ground loop and flip on its back. The airplane was substantially damaged and… ## Other investigations on N56416 (2) 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 OAK74DVA33](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK74DVA33), Nov 15, 1973: Boeing A75 (N56416), Hickman, CA, substantial damage - [NTSB OAK68D0235](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK68D0235), Nov 22, 1967: Boeing A75 (N56416), Montpellier, CA, substantial damage 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.