On March 22, 2000, a Stearman A75N1 (registration N541JK) was involved in an aviation accident near Fort Lauderdale, FL. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control after touchdown and the subsequent wing tip strike, ground loop, and runway excursion. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
During landing on runway 08 with northerly winds, a wind burble caused the aircraft to skip, resulting in a wingtip strike and ground loop. The pilot added power to avoid a runway light.
Incident Details
A pilot reported that during landing on runway 08, the winds were from 020 degrees at 6 knots. According to the pilot, local pilots are aware of wind burbles in the touchdown area of that runway when winds are from a northerly direction.
Sequence of Events
As the pilot flared the aircraft, a wind burble caused the aircraft to 'skip' on touchdown. The left wings lifted, and the right lower wing tip struck the runway. Following the wingtip strike, directional control was lost. The pilot added power to maneuver the aircraft away from a runway light, and a ground loop resulted.