# NTSB NYC08CA274: Boeing E75, N4923N, Sterling, MA, August 8, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 8, 2008, 14:30 local (18:30 UTC) - Place: Sterling, MA - Coordinates: 42.425834, -71.792778 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.4258&lon=-71.7928&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 26, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 68675 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC08CA274 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/68675/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC08CA274 ## Probable cause The owner/pilot's improper flare. Contributing to the accident was the pilot-in-command's inadequate remedial action. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Boeing E75, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=1380120), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md) - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Boeing E75, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=1380120), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Boeing E75, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=1380120), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis At its home airport, a Boeing E75 was purposely landed in the grass adjacent to the runway. The airplane touched down hard, the left main landing gear strut separated from the airplane, the right main landing gear strut bent, the propeller struck the ground, and the lower left wing spar broke. Their were no injuries to the owner/pilot who was flying the airplane from the rear cockpit, or his friend, who according to the owner, was acting as pilot-in-command since his flight review was "expired." ## Factual narrative At its home airport, a Boeing E75 was purposely landed in the grass adjacent to the runway. The airplane touched down hard, the left main landing gear strut separated from the airplane, the right main landing gear strut bent, the propeller struck the ground, and the lower left wing spar broke. Their were no injuries to the owner/pilot who was flying the airplane from the rear cockpit, or his friend, who according to the owner, was acting as pilot-in-command since his flight review was "expired." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4923N](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4923N), registered now, S/N 75-8216, built 1940 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Boeing E75 - Registry model: [Boeing E75](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-e75) (registry code 1380120) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental W670 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-w670-series) (registry code 17018, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 75-8216 - Airframe hours: 6456.4 - Engines: Continental W670 220 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 1, 2008 - Departed: 3B3, Sterling, MA - Destination: 3B3 - Airport: 3B3, Sterling Airport, runway 34, 3,086 × 40 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 82; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 1, 2004; seat: rear; flight hours: 620 total, 620 in this make and model - Pilot; age 55; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 1, 2007; seat: front; flight hours: 1,499 total, 160 in this make and model, 1,357 as pilot in command, 29 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 29.63 inHg - Observed at: FIT, 8 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 20080808849399A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080808849399A), Aug 8, 2008: Boeing E75, Sterling, MA, Substantial damage. (-23) The non PIC pilot manipulating the controls from the aft seat was landing the stearman in the grass adjacent to runway 34. The non PIC pilot admitted the… ## Other investigations on N4923N (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 NYC95LA010](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC95LA010), Oct 15, 1994: Boeing Stearman PT-17 (N4923N), Fitchburg, MA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to adequately compensate for the crosswind condition during landing, which resulted in a ground loop and the subsequent wing tip collision with the runway. 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.