# NTSB WPR26LA066: Boeing PT-13D, N68830, El Cajon, CA, December 19, 2025

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: December 19, 2025, 13:10 local (21:10 UTC)
- Place: El Cajon, CA
- Coordinates: 32.827014, -116.96803
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.8270&lon=-116.9680&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 13, 2026
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 202194
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR26LA066
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/202194/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202194
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA066

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll.

## 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 PT-13D, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=1380122), [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 PT-13D, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=1380122), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md)
- [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Boeing PT-13D, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=1380122), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/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: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Boeing PT-13D, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=1380122), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped biplane reported that he was performing a three-point landing. After an uneventful touchdown the airplane drifted to the right. The pilot attempted to compensate using left aileron and full-aft elevator control inputs. He applied partial engine power and the airplane then veered to left. The airplane continued off the left side of the runway, and ground-looped to the left. During the sequence, both lower wings struck the ground. The left lower wing and aileron received substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation and stated that the accident was simply the result of a loss of control.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N68830](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N68830), registered now, S/N 755667 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BOEING PT-13D
- Registry model: [Boeing PT-13D](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-pt-13d) (registry code 1380122) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming R680-17](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-r680-17) (registry code 42404, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 755667
- Year built: 1943
- Airframe hours: 1701
- Engines: Lycoming R680-17 225 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Gordon Bowman-Jones LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, December 2, 2025
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: SEE, Gillespie Fld, runway 27R, 5,342 × 100 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: ADS-B

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 86; injuries: none; airline transport, commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review December 11, 2025; seat: rear; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 14,600 total, 21 in this make and model, 12,000 as pilot in command, 107 in the last 90 days, 18 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 230° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Altimeter: 29.99 inHg
- Observed at: KSEE
- METAR: SPECI KSEE 192102Z 23007KT 10SM SKC 26/07 A2999=

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Incident 20251219020509I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20251219020509I), Dec 19, 2025: Boeing PT-13D, El Cajon, CA, Minor damage. Pilot stated upon landing RUNWAY27 right the aircraft drifted from centerline to the right. Trying to correct by placing right aileron down and control yoke…

## Docket (4 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 13, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202194. 1.4 MB in all.

- Pilot's statement (item 1, PDF, 1 page, 97 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19739757&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20MOR_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 297 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19803035&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Damage%20Photos-Rel.pdf
- Pilot's statement - followup (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 89 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19802928&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20Followup%20Call%20MOR_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 4, PDF, 9 pages, 906 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19955024&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=pilot_completed_6120_Redacted-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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