On July 25, 1989, a Boeing A75N1 (registration N68491) operated by Hartley Folstat was involved in an aviation accident near Chino, CA. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing, which resulted in a hard landing and the aircraft flipping over. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A Stearman A75 experienced a hard landing on runway 26, resulting in loss of directional control and the aircraft flipping over. No mechanical issues were found.
What happened
The pilot was operating a Stearman A75 when the aircraft executed a hard landing on runway 26. Following the impact, the pilot lost directional control of the aircraft. The loss of control resulted in the aircraft flipping over onto its side or back.
The runway at the time of the incident measured 3856 feet in length and 150 feet in width. Weather conditions during the event included a wind coming from 240 degrees with a speed between 5 to 7 knots. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical problems with the aircraft prior to the accident.
The investigation
An examination of the aircraft was conducted following the incident. The investigation found no evidence of any mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have contributed to the accident. The pilot's report of no pre-accident mechanical issues was confirmed by the physical inspection.
Findings
The primary factor in this event was the hard landing which led directly to the loss of directional control and the subsequent rollover of the aircraft. loss of directional control was the immediate cause of the damage. No other contributing factors such as weather or mechanical failure were identified.
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing, which resulted in a hard landing and the aircraft flipping over.