# NTSB WPR23LA014: Boeing A75N1(PT17), N42PT, Petaluma, CA, October 15, 2022

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: October 15, 2022, 14:33 local (21:33 UTC)
- Place: Petaluma, CA
- Coordinates: 38.257793, -122.60532 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.2578&lon=-122.6053&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 106138
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR23LA014
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/106138/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106138
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA014

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during landing in gusting wind.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Boeing A75N1(PT17), 33 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=1380134), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Boeing A75N1(PT17), 27 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=1380134), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Boeing A75N1(PT17), 32 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=1380134), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, during landing roll, he let “the control column go to a neutral position” after touchdown, and a gust of wind raised the left wing. The airplane veered off the runway to the right, subsequently colliding with a windsock and coming to rest inverted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N42PT](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N42PT), registered now, S/N 75-8387, built 1943 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BOEING A75N1(PT17)
- 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: 75-8387
- Year built: 1942
- Engines: Jacobs R-755B2M 275 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 3, 2022
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: O69, Petaluma Muni, runway 29, 3,600 × 75 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: ADS-B

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 69; injuries: none; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 3, 2022; seat: center; flight hours: 6,384 total, 395 in this make and model, 6,152 as pilot in command, 105 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 2,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter: 29.90 inHg
- Observed at: KDVO
- METAR: METAR KDVO 151935Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM OVC020 20/13 A2990 RMK AO2

## 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 20221015017619A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20221015017619A), Oct 15, 2022: Boeing A75N1(PT17), Petaluma, CA, Substantial damage. Pilot statement: during the landing flare on RWY11 a gust a wind lifted the tail and the airplane spun 180*. Departed rwy hit burm and aircraft flipped over on…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 30, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106138. 7.2 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 6.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14916626&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%206120-1%20WPR23LA014_Redacted-Rel-Rel.pdf
- Photo (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 921 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14685688&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Docket%20photo%20WPR23LA014-Rel.pdf

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.

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