Stearman PT 17 accident near Hamilton, Ohio, May 5, 1985
On May 5, 1985 at about 7:40 pm local time, a Stearman PT 17, registered N59221, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hamilton, Ohio (Hamilton 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 instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 5, 1985 · about 7:40 pm local time
- Place
- Hamilton, Ohio · Hamilton · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Stearman PT 17
- Registration
- N59221 · registry record · serial 75-4790
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS TAKING OFF IN A 90 DEGREE CROSS WIND OF 15 KTS GUSTS 23 KTS IMMEDIATLY AFTER LIFTOFF A GUST OF WIND RESULTED IN PILOT LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL THE ACFT VEERED OFF OF THE RUNWAY STRUCK A DITCH AND NOSED OVER INVERTED.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 228 hours in all; 40 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 181 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 4, 1984
- Maximum gross weight: 2,750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-985 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HAD Hamilton OH at 8:39 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 29, 5,480 ft by 80 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 15 knots, gusting 23
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:55 pm from LUK, 20 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
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.