Boeing A75 accident near St. James, Missouri, July 17, 2016
On July 17, 2016 at about 11:35 pm local time, a Boeing A75, registered N4558N, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (aerobatics) near St. James, Missouri. 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 loss of control while performing an aerobatic maneuver resulting in an inadvertent spin and collision with trees and terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 17, 2016 · about 11:35 pm local time
- Place
- St. James, Missouri · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Boeing A75 UNDESIGNAT · all A75s on the register
- Registration
- N4558N · registry record · serial 75-8457
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private pilot reported that during a local flight in the aerobatic biplane, he performed an aerobatic flight maneuver about 2,000 feet above ground level. He reported that he performed a left wing over, the airplane entered an unintentional spin and he recovered from the spin too low to the ground. The airplane impacted trees and came to rest upright, but sustained substantial damage to both wings, fuselage and empennage. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with the airplane during the flight that would have prevented normal flight operations.
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
- Low altitude operation/event during maneuvering (aerobatics)
- Aerodynamic stall/spin during maneuvering (aerobatics)
- Loss of control in flight during maneuvering (aerobatics) defining event
- Attempted remediation/recovery during maneuvering (aerobatics)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › Sloped/uneven terrain › Contributed to outcome
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Tree(s) › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,034 hours in all; 502 in this make and model; 35 in the last 90 days; 26 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: July 26, 2015
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: frt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,341.8 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 10, 2015
- Maximum gross weight: 2,635 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental W670-6A (piston); 94 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PVT St. James MO at 11:00 pm
- Destination: PVT St. James MO
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 30.05 inHg
- Observation at 11:53 pm from VIH, 11 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.
Other NTSB records under N4558N the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.