Boeing A75N1 accident near Milton, Delaware, October 16, 1987
On October 16, 1987 at about 1:00 pm local time, a Boeing A75N1, registered N53488, was substantially damaged in an accident near Milton, Delaware (Eagle Crest airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S IMPROPER BRAKE APPLICATION DURING A 'WHEEL' LANDING, WHICH RESULTED IN THE AIRCRAFT NOSING OVER. THE SLIGHT DOWNSLOPE OF THE AIRSTRIP, A QUARTERING TAILWIND, INADEQUATE SUPERVISION ON THE PART OF THE CHECK PILOT, AND THE PILOT'S LACK OF FAMILIARITY WITH THE ACCIDENT AIRCRAFT ALL CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 16, 1987 · about 1:00 pm local time
- Place
- Milton, Delaware · Eagle Crest · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Boeing A75N1 · all A75N1s on the register
- Registration
- N53488 · registry record · serial 75-2284
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE CHECK PILOT STATED THAT THE PILOT'S SECOND LANDING IN THE ACCIDENT AIRCRAFT WAS A 'WHEEL' LANDING. HE REPORTED THAT THE PILOT TOUCHED DOWN ON THE TOP OF A CREST IN THE AIRSTRIP WITH THE TAIL HIGH. THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED DOWN THE SLIGHT SLOPE WITH A QUARTERING TAILWIND. ACCORDING TO THE CHECK PILOT, THE PILOT APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE AIRCRAFT NOSED OVER, COMING TO REST INVERTED ON THE GRASS STRIP.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 542 hours in all; 192 in the last 90 days; 440 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 10 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,700 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-985 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 32, 3,500 ft by 11 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 4 knots, gusting 7
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N53488 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.