Boeing A75N1(PT17) accident near Rosamond, California, November 19, 2017
On November 19, 2017 at about 11:00 pm local time, a 1943 Boeing A75N1(PT17), registered N69656, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Rosamond, California (Rosamond Skypark 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 visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 19, 2017 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Rosamond, California · Rosamond Skypark · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Boeing A75N1(PT17) UNDESIGNAT, built 1943 · all A75N1(PT17)s on the register
- Registration
- N69656 · registry record · serial 75-4912
- 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 in the tailwheel-equipped, high-performance biplane, during the landing roll, he applied the brakes to decelerate for the full-stop landing. When he did, the biplane swerved to the left, but it was corrected by letting off the brakes and applying right rudder. The biplane then veered to the left again, but the pilot was not able to correct it with full right rudder and brake application. The biplane exited the left side of the runway and nosed over. The biplane sustained substantial damage to the rudder. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the biplane that would have precluded 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 control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Attempted remediation/recovery during landing (landing roll)
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,907 hours in all; 72 in this make and model; 47 in the last 90 days; 31 in the last 30 days; 2,371 as pilot in command; 151 on instruments
- Last flight review: November 16, 2017
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
Other crew
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: helicopter; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 22,000 hours in all; 2 in this make and model; 95 in the last 90 days; 27 in the last 30 days; 17,000 as pilot in command; 400 on instruments
- Last flight review: October 15, 2017
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,215.8 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 8, 2017
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental W670-6A (piston); 3,392 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: L00 Rosamond CA at 10:45 pm
- Destination: L00 Rosamond CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 08, 3,600 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 100° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 3°F (-16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.07 inHg
- Observation at 10:56 pm from KWJF, 8 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on April 2, 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 | Photo (Courtesy of FAA) | PDF, 1 page | 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.