Stearman A75 accident near Appleton, Wisconsin, August 1, 2013
On August 1, 2013 at about 3:45 pm local time, a Stearman A75, registered N234X, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Appleton, Wisconsin (Outagamie County Regional airport). It was an air show or air race 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 inadequate compensation for the crosswind, which resulted in a loss of directional control.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 1, 2013 · about 3:45 pm local time
- Place
- Appleton, Wisconsin · Outagamie County Regional · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Stearman A75
- Registration
- N234X · registry record · serial 75-260
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Air show or air race flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Prior to landing, the pilot listened to the automated weather station which reported the wind out of the west at 8 knots; the pilot would land on runway 21 for a normal crosswind landing. During the landing roll, the right wing lifted suddenly, the left wing contacted the ground, and the airplane ground looped. The pilot then asked the air traffic controller what the wind was, the air traffic controller responded that the wind was at 14 knots, gusting to 19 and getting stronger. Examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the left wing.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of control on ground during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Response/compensation
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 19,273 hours in all; 214 in this make and model; 217 in the last 90 days; 112 in the last 30 days; 10,202 as pilot in command; 271 on instruments
- Last flight review: July 14, 2013
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming R680E SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: American Airpower Heritage Flying Museum INC
The flight
- Departed from: KATW Appleton WI
- Destination: KATW Appleton WI
- Flight plan: not recorded
- Runway 21, 8,002 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 29.92 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
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 N234X 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.