Stearman B75 accident near Lexington, North Carolina, June 25, 2018
On June 25, 2018 at about 3:45 pm local time, a 1941 Stearman B75, registered N52584, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Lexington, North Carolina (Davidson County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s overapplication of the wheel brakes during landing, which resulted in a nose-over.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 25, 2018 · about 3:45 pm local time
- Place
- Lexington, North Carolina · Davidson County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Stearman B75 N1, built 1941
- Registration
- N52584 · registry record · serial 75-6955
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During the second wheel landing of the flight and shortly after the tailwheel touched down on the runway, the airplane drifted right. The commercial pilot attempted to stop the drift by applying the wheel brakes. Subsequently, the airplane nosed over. The right wing, rudder, and vertical stabilizer sustained substantial damage. During a postaccident interview, the pilot stated that he "got on [the] brakes a little harder than I should have." Examination of the landing gear assembly and rudder control linkages did not reveal any evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Therefore, it is likely the pilot's overapplication of the brakes resulted in the nose-over.
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 (landing roll) defining event
- Attempted remediation/recovery during landing (landing roll)
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of equip/system › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Brake › Incorrect use/operation
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Surface speed/braking › Incorrect use/operation
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 30,000 hours in all; 350 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 25,000 as pilot in command; 2,500 on instruments
- Last flight review: August 1, 2017
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,282 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 27, 2017
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming R-680-13 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: EXX Lexington NC at 3:10 pm
- Destination: EXX Lexington NC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 5,004 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.11 inHg
- Observation at 3:55 pm from EXX
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 October 22, 2018. 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, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | FAA Inspector Statement | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Record of Conversation (Pilot in Command) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Witness Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Photo Array | PDF, 3 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.