Stearman A75N1(PT17) accident near Henderson, Texas, September 5, 2020
On September 5, 2020 at about 7:30 pm local time, a 1940 Stearman A75N1(PT17), registered N373VU, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Henderson, Texas (Rusk County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain proper airspeed, resulting in an aerodynamic stall after takeoff.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 5, 2020 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Henderson, Texas · Rusk County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Stearman A75N1(PT17) Undesignat, built 1940
- Registration
- N373VU · no longer on the register · serial 75-970
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
After about 2.5 hours of uneventful flight, the pilot landed the airplane for a fuel stop. About 20 minutes later, the pilot took off to continue the trip. Upon takeoff, shortly after rotation, the pilot noted that the airplane seemed to be “mushy,” even though the engine was “screaming,” as if it were producing power. He stated that the airplane “seemed to be hanging from the propeller.” The pilot initiated a left turn to return to the runway and decided to level off. After leveling off, the tail of the airplane impacted trees and the airplane went straight down. The passenger got a glimpse at the instruments, and the airspeed indicator showed about “sixty” when the airplane hit the trees. A witness observed the airplane take off and climb to about 150 feet. He thought that the engine appeared to lose power, but it was still running. He saw the airplane turn to the left and appeared to stall. Examination of the airframe and engine did not reveal any pre-impact anomalies. One of the wooden propeller blades was shattered, consistent with rotation at impact. The wreckage was found amidst trees, nose down, consistent with a low inertia impact. It is likely that the pilot initiated a turn at too low an airspeed and the airplane stalled after takeoff.
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 in flight during initial climb defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 100 hours in all; 25 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: rear
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,400 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 10, 2020; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,635 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental W670-6N (piston); 2,800 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KRFI Henderson TX at 7:28 pm
- Destination: KRFI Henderson TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 4,006 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 020° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 30.25 inHg
- Observation at 7:19 pm from RFI
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
5 documents, released by the NTSB on May 19, 2022. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Memorandum for the Record Pilot Statement Summary CEN20LA393 | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 2 | Memorandum for the Record Passenger Statement Summary CEN20LA393 | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Memorandum for the Record Witness Statement Summary CEN20LA393 | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Memorandum for the Record Wreckage Examination Findings CEN20LA393 | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Photo Array CEN20LA383 | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.