Boeing A75N1 accident near Denton, Texas, October 21, 2024
On October 21, 2024 at about 4:00 pm local time, a 1941 Boeing A75N1, registered N62394, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Denton, Texas (Denton Enterprise Airport). It was a personal 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 partial loss of engine power during the initial climb and the pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the forced landing with a tailwind.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 21, 2024 · about 4:00 pm local time
- Place
- Denton, Texas · Denton Enterprise Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Boeing A75N1 PT-17, built 1941 · all A75N1s on the register
- Registration
- N62394 · no longer on the register · serial 75-2352
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that the airplane had a lower-than-expected climb rate during initial climb which was followed by a rough running engine at all power settings. The pilot entered a turn to remain close to the airport during which the radial engine quit momentarily before it resumed running rough. The pilot declared an emergency with the tower controller and was cleared to land on the runway, which resulted in a tailwind condition. The pilot was unable to maintain directional control during the landing roll which resulted in a ground loop and a runway excursion. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both ailerons and the aft spar of both lower wings.
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 engine power (partial) during initial climb defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during landing
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll)
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Power plant › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Tailwind › Effect on equipment
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Tailwind › Ability to respond/compensate
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 8,971 hours in all; 114 in this make and model; 78 in the last 90 days; 23 in the last 30 days; 8,778 as pilot in command; 2,500 on instruments
- Last flight review: March 5, 2024
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,306 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 18, 2024
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental W670 (piston); 1,737 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KDTO Denton TX at 4:00 pm
- Destination: KDTO Denton TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36R, 7,002 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.24 inHg
- Observation at 10:53 am from KDTO
Weather report (METAR): KDTO 211553Z 20009KT 10SM CLR 23/12 A3024 RMK AO2 SLP234 T02330117
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 3 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photograph 1 – Accident airplane
Photograph 2 – Left lower wing damage
Photograph 3 – Left lower wing aileron damageThe NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on February 21, 2025. 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 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 10 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photos | PDF, 4 pages · our copy | 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.