# NTSB MIA94LA055: Boeing A75N1, N59528, Zellwood, FL, January 16, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 16, 1994, 14:00 local (19:00 UTC) - Place: Zellwood, FL - Coordinates: 28.729486, -81.599746 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.7295&lon=-81.5997&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report December 7, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 37482 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA94LA055 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/37482/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA94LA055 ## Probable cause INADVERTENT STALL/SPIN BY THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND WHILE EXECUTING A SPIRAL TO LANDING MANEUVER DURING THE BASE TO FINAL TURN. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, approach - vfr pattern - base leg/base to final - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - stall/spin - inadvertent, pilot in command - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis THE PILOT STATED THAT HE HAD COMPLETED AT LEAST FOUR TOUCH-AND-GO LANDINGS AND CLIMBED TO A HIGHER THAN STANDARD ALTITUDE DURING THE DOWNWIND LEG TO EXECUTE A SPIRAL TO LAND MANEUVER. HE IS UNSURE HOW MANY TURNS HE COMPLETED; HOWEVER, HE RECALLS TURNING LEFT BASE IN ABOUT A 45 DEGREE ANGLE OF BANK AND REALIZED THAT THE AIRPLANE WAS LOW. HE ADDED POWER AND CONTROL INPUT TO STOP THE TURN BUT THE DESCENDING LEFT TURN CONTINUED. THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED THE GROUND NOSE AND LEFT WING LOW AND CAME TO REST UPRIGHT. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE REVEALED THAT THE RIGHT RUDDER HORN WAS FAILED. THE FAILED HORN WAS REMOVED FROM THE AIRPLANE FOR METALLURGICAL EXAMINATION WHICH REVEALED THAT IT FAILED DUE TO OVERLOAD. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF PREIMPACT FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION. THE RUDDER STOPS WERE EXAMINED AND FOUND TO BE INSTALLED. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF ANY FLIGHT CONTROL FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION. ## Factual narrative On January 16, 1994, about 1400 eastern standard time, a Boeing A75N1, registered to the Stearman Flight School, Inc., crashed about 1/2 mile west of the runway at the Bob White Airport, Zellwood, Florida, while on a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The airplane was substantially damaged and the commercial pilot, the sole occupant, sustained serious injuries. The flight originated about 1330 from the Bob White Airport, Zellwood, Florida. The pilot stated that he had performed at least four touch-and-go landings and after takeoff following the fourth, he turned left crosswind, then downwind. The flight climbed to a higher than standard altitude to execute a commercial spiral to land maneuver. Witnesses reported that the airplane climbed to about 1,500 feet during the downwind leg. The pilot further stated that he initiated the spiral for landing but is unsure how many turns he completed;however, he recalls turning left base in a 45-degree bank. He added power after realizing that the airplane was low and applied control input to stop the turn but the descending turn continued. The airplane impacted the ground nose and left wing low and came to rest upright. Examination of the airplane by an FAA inspector revealed that the right rudder horn was failed. Additionally, the rudder stops were inspected and found to be installed. Examination of the flight control system revealed no evidence of any other pre impact failure or malfunction. The failed rudder horn was removed from the airplane for metallurgical examination by the NTSB metallurgy laboratory. Metallurgical examination of the fracture surfaces of the rudder horn revealed that it failed due to overload. There was no evidence of preexisting failure. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N59528](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N59528-2019-04-19), registration cancelled 2019-04-19, S/N 75-1164, built 1941 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BOEING A75N1 - Registry model: [Boeing A75N1(PT17)](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-a75n1-pt17) (registry code 1380134) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental W670 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-w670-series) (registry code 17018, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 75-1164 - Airframe hours: 2849 - Engines: CONTINENTAL W-670 220 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Stearman Flight School, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Special, Limited (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, November 21, 1993, 38 hours before - Airport: X61, Bob White Field ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 39; private, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: rear; flight hours: 565 total, 10 in this make and model, 376 as pilot in command, 64 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 90° at 10 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: ORL, 19 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 19940116000489A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940116000489A), Jan 16, 1994: Boeing A75N1, Zellwood, FL, Substantial damage. Struck ground after spiral to a landing. Failed to note. Became too low. Rudder horn failed overload impact. ## Other investigations on N59528 (1) 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 CHI92LA133](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI92LA133), Apr 26, 1992: Boeing A75N1 (N59528), Washington, MO, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S IMPROPER USE OF THE CARBURETOR HEAT CONTROL. 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.