Stearman D75 accident near Taylor, Texas, May 28, 2005
On May 28, 2005 at about 9:20 pm local time, a Stearman D75, registered N56259, was substantially damaged in an accident near Taylor, Texas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from an unmarked transmission line. A contributing factor was low altitude selected by the pilot.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 28, 2005 · about 9:20 pm local time
- Place
- Taylor, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Stearman D75
- Registration
- N56259 · registry record · serial 75-3976
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The vintage biplane struck an unmarked static power line while maneuvering at low altitude. Multiple witnesses adjacent to the accident site reporting observing the airplane flying low just prior to striking the wire. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and there were no obstructions to visibility at the time of the accident. Two of the witnesses reported that the airplane and engine appeared to be operating normally, prior to impact with the wires. The logbooks for the private pilot and bi-plane were not obtained during the accident investigation.
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: 725 hours in all
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: unk
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney R-985 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: Taylor TX
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 29.81 inHg
- Observation at 8:55 pm from KGTU, 15 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.