# NTSB NYC95LA010: Boeing Stearman PT-17, N4923N, Fitchburg, MA, October 15, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 15, 1994, 11:55 local (15:55 UTC) - Place: Fitchburg, MA - Location: 42.5538° N, 71.7592° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at FITCHBURG MUNI (FIT), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.5538&lon=-71.7592&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 5, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 38886 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC95LA010 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38886/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC95LA010 ## 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. ## 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 - weather condition - crosswind - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command(cfi) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - runway - wing,wingtip - buckled ## Analysis A CERTIFIED FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR (CFI), AND THE 26 HOUR STUDENT PILOT/OWNER OF THE AIRPLANE, DEPARTED IN THE AIRPLANE FOR A LOCAL TRAINING FLIGHT. ACCORDING TO THE CFI, 'DURING THE LANDING, TOUCH DOWN WAS APPROXIMATELY ONE THOUSAND FEET FROM THE APPROACH END OF RUNWAY 32. A SUDDEN GUST OF WIND CAME FROM THE RIGHT; I APPLIED HARD LEFT RUDDER AND BRAKE WITH NO EFFECT, DURING THIS TIME THE LEFT WING TIP STRUCK THE PAVEMENT. THE PLANE LEFT THE RUNWAY ONTO THE TURF; THERE, WITH THE LEFT BRAKE LOCKED, THE LOOP HALTED, BUT THE NOSE SLOWLY TIPPED DOWN.' THE CFI REPORTED 'THE ENTIRE INCIDENT TOOK PLACE AT SLOW SPEED, APPARENTLY TOO SLOW FOR THE FLIGHT CONTROL TO HAVE ANY COUNTERING EFFECT.' ## Factual narrative On October 15, 1994, at 1155 eastern daylight time, a Boeing Stearman PT-17, N4923N, owned by Joseph E. Innamorati and piloted by Richard F. Cable, a certified flight instructor (CFI), was substantially damaged during a ground loop at the Fitchburg Municipal Airport (FIT), Fitchburg, Massachusetts. The flight instructor and student pilot were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed for the flight operating under 14 CFR 91. The 74 year old CFI was giving flight instruction in N4923N, to the owner and non-rated 69 year old student pilot, Mr. Joseph Innamorati. In the NTSB Form 6120.1/2, the CFI stated that he and the owner departed the Sterling Airport, Sterling Massachusetts for a local flight. During the flight they decided to practice takeoff and landings at FIT, and the CFI made the first approach. The CFI further stated: "...During the first landing, touch down was approximately one thousand feet from the approach end of runway 32. A sudden gust of wind came from the right; I applied hard left rudder and brake with no effect, during this time the left wing tip struck the pavement. The plane left the runway onto the turf; there with the left brake locked, the loop halted, but the nose slowly tipped down..." The CFI had accumulated approximately 19,500 hours of flight experience, with about 250 hours in make and model. The winds at an airport nearby were reported to be from 060 degrees at 10 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4923N](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4923N), registered now, S/N 75-8216, built 1940 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BOEING STEARMAN PT-17 - 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: 5144 - Engines: CONTINENTAL W670-6A 220 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Joseph E. Innamorati - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Provisional (Special); Standard, Aerobatic; Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, April 25, 1994, 94 hours before - Departed: 3B3, STERLING, MA - Destination: FIT - Airport: FIT, Fitchburg Municipal, runway 32, 4,511 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 75; airline transport, commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 19,495 total, 250 in this make and model, 16,700 as pilot in command, 70 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 60° at 10 knots - Visibility: 40 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 27 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: ORH, 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 19941015034959A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19941015034959A), Oct 15, 1994: Boeing E75, Fitchburg, MA, Substantial damage. Lost directional control landing in crosswind. Ground looped and nosed up. Blamed sudden wind gust. Not verified. ## 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 NYC08CA274](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC08CA274), Aug 8, 2008: Boeing E75 (N4923N), Sterling, MA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The owner/pilot's improper flare. Contributing to the accident was the pilot-in-command's inadequate remedial action. 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.