# NTSB LAX97LA201: Boeing Stearman A75N1, N450MF, Lemoore, CA, June 7, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 7, 1997, 08:10 local (15:10 UTC) - Place: Lemoore, CA - Location: 36.3331° N, 119.9522° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at LEMOORE NAS (REEVES FLD) (NLC), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.3331&lon=-119.9522&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 21, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 29805 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX97LA201 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29805/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX97LA201 ## Probable cause failure of the pilot to maintain directional control of the airplane during the landing, which resulted in a ground swerve and subsequent overload failure of the main landing gear. Related factors were a left crosswind and partial loss of the right wheel brake. ## 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 - landing gear,normal brake system - loss,partial (contributing factor) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - Main gear collapsed, landing - landing gear,main gear - overload ## Analysis The pilot stated that he was unable to control a sudden swerve to the left during the landing rollout, so he added full power to go around. The power application torqued the airplane into a fully developed ground loop from which it came to rest after approximately 135 degrees of turn. During the turn, both main gear collapsed, allowing the propeller to contact the runway surface. The pilot also stated that the right brake faded during the landing rollout, and he felt that this contributed to his inability to control the initial swerve. ## Factual narrative On June 7, 1997, at 0810 hours Pacific daylight time, a Boeing Stearman A75N1, N450MF, was substantially damaged when it ground looped during landing at Lemoore Naval Air Station, Lemoore, California. There was no injury to the solo commercial pilot. The flight departed Hanford, California, at 0750 with visual meteorological conditions prevailing for the personal flight. The pilot stated that, during the landing rollout, the airplane started a swerve to the left so he added full power to go around. The power application torqued the airplane into a fully developed ground loop from which it came to rest after approximately 135 degrees of turn. During the turn, both main gear collapsed, allowing the propeller to strike the runway surface several times. The pilot also stated that the right brake faded during the landing rollout and he felt that this contributed to the inability to control the initial swerve. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N450MF](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N450MF), registered now, S/N 75-6618 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Boeing Stearman A75N1 - Registry model: [Boeing A75N1(PT17)](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-a75n1-pt17) (registry code 1380134) (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: 75-6618 - Engines: P&W R-985-AN-1 450 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Ronald A. Caraway - Registered owner: Stearman Restorations Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Aerobatic - Last inspection: Annual, September 10, 1996, 120 hours before - Departed: 018, HANFORD, CA - Destination: NLC, CA - Airport: NLC, Nas Lemoore/Reeves, runway 26L, 13,500 × 150 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: rear; flight hours: 4,712 total, 129 in this make and model, 4,554 as pilot in command, 38 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 20° at 4 knots - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 3 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: NLC, 1 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 19970607013599A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970607013599A), Jun 7, 1997: Boeing A75N1, Lemoore, CA, Substantial damage. Veered on landing. Added power to go around. Torque added to left turn. Ground looped. Weak right brake a factor. 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.