Boeing B75N1 accident near Shelter Island, New York, July 25, 2015
On July 25, 2015 at about 2:30 pm local time, a 1943 Boeing B75N1, registered N5820V, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Shelter Island, New York (Westmoreland airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain pitch control during the landing roll, resulting 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
- July 25, 2015 · about 2:30 pm local time
- Place
- Shelter Island, New York · Westmoreland · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Boeing B75N1 N1, built 1943 · all B75N1s on the register
- Registration
- N5820V · registry record · serial 75-7728
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot of the tailwheel-equipped bi-plane, during the landing roll, landing as number three in a flight of three, on a turf runway, he lost sight of the airplane ahead, he relaxed the stick, the tail came up, and the airplane nosed over. The pilot reported that he was unable to see beyond mid-field due to the crown in the runway, and "became concerned with the actual location of the other aircraft." The pilot reported that he allowed the airplane's tail to rise six to eight inches, and as he applied the brakes, the center of gravity shifted forward due to the 40 gallons of fuel in the bi-plane's upper wing. The airplane nosed over and sustained substantial damage to the rudder, empennage, and top wings. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or anomalies prior to or during the flight that would have prevented normal operation.
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 visual reference during landing (landing roll)
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Pitch control › Not attained/maintained
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Aircraft capability › CG/weight distribution › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Communication (personnel) › Lack of communication › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,141 hours in all; 1,141 in this make and model; 3,141 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 1, 2015
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (waiver time limited special)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,844 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 1, 2015
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental W670 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HWV Brookhaven NY at 2:00 pm
- Destination: 49NY Shelter Island NY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 3, 1,400 ft by 200 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 6 knots
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.03 inHg
- Observation at 1:54 pm from KMTP, 18 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on November 17, 2015. 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 | Memorandum for Record - Telephone Interview, Pilot | 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.