# NTSB NYC99LA158: Boeing Stearman E75, N1658M, Marston Mills, MA, July 5, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 5, 1999, 18:10 local (22:10 UTC) - Place: Marston Mills, MA - Location: 41.6853° N, 70.4022° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at CAPE COD (2B1), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.6853&lon=-70.4022&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 10, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 46764 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC99LA158 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/46764/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC99LA158 ## Probable cause The inadvertent control interference of the airplane's brakes by the passenger. A factor related to the accident was the pilot in commands insufficient passenger briefing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Nose over, landing - roll - passenger briefing - information insufficient, pilot in command (contributing factor) - control interference - inadvertent, passenger (cause) - brakes(normal) - excessive ## Analysis The pilot, who was in the rear seat of the airplane, stated that after touching down on Runway 27, a 2,680 foot-long grass runway, the airplane suddenly nosed over, and came to rest inverted. After the accident, the pilot asked his pilot rated passenger, who was seated in the forward seat, if he had his feet on the brakes. The passenger replied yes. The pilot additionally stated that he did not brief the passenger on the operation or use of the brakes prior to flight, and there were no means of communication while the airplane was in flight. ## Factual narrative On July 5, 1999, about 1810 Eastern Daylight Time, a Boeing Stearman E-75, N1658M, was substantially damaged while landing at the Marston Mills Airport, Marston Mills, Massachusetts. The certificated commercial pilot and pilot rated passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot, who was in the rear seat of the airplane, stated that after touching down on Runway 27, a 2,680 foot long grass runway, the airplane suddenly nosed over, and came to rest inverted. After the accident, the pilot asked his passenger, who was seated in the forward seat, if he had his feet on the brakes. The passenger replied yes. The pilot additionally stated to a Federal Aviation Administration Inspector that he did not brief the passenger on the operation or use of the brakes prior to flight, and there were no means of communication while the airplane was in flight. The winds reported by an airport located 7 miles to the east, at 1756, were from 310 degrees at 13 knots, gusting to 17 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1658M](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1658M), registered now, S/N 75-5173, built 1942 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Boeing Stearman E75 (E-75) - 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: 75-5173 - Airframe hours: 3112 - Engines: Continental W670-6N 220 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Richard A. Kornhiser - Registered owner: Cape Cod Flying Service Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Aerobatic - Last inspection: Annual, July 10, 1998, 18 hours before - Departed: 2B1 - Airport: 2B1, Cape Cod Airport, runway 27, 2,680 × 70 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 42; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: rear; flight hours: 5,498 total, 98 in this make and model, 5,353 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 310° at 13 knots, gusting 17 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 95 °F, dew point 73 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: HYA, 7 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 19990705008099A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990705008099A), Jul 5, 1999: Boeing E75, Marston Mills, MA, Substantial damage. Acft crashed on landing and sustained substantial damage, other circumstances are unknown. (-23) 1658M, B75-E75, landed marstons Mills runway 27 (grass strip)… 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.