Boeing A75N1(PT17) accident near Chino, California, December 3, 2017
On December 3, 2017 at about 7:09 pm local time, a 1941 Boeing A75N1(PT17), registered N1431C, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Chino, California (Chino 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 a touch-and-go landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 3, 2017 · about 7:09 pm local time
- Place
- Chino, California · Chino · 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 1941 · all A75N1(PT17)s on the register
- Registration
- N1431C · registry record · serial 75-1702
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that the tailwheel-equipped biplane bounced during the initial touchdown of a three-point, touch-and-go landing. He added that the biplane settled back onto the runway and that he continued to maintain the runway centerline. Subsequently, when he raised the tail for takeoff, the biplane veered sharply to the right, and the lower left wing struck the ground. The biplane sustained substantial damage to the lower left aileron. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the biplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot added that he may have "accidently hit the right brake" during the landing roll.
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
- Abnormal runway contact during landing
- Loss of control on ground during takeoff defining event
- Dragged wing/rotor/float/other during takeoff
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
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Surface speed/braking › Incorrect use/operation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 4,450 hours in all; 10 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 4,100 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 14, 2016
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
Flight instructor
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; multi-engine sea; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: helicopter; instructor: instrument airplane; instructor: instrument helicopter; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 5,400 hours in all; 420 in this make and model; 45 in the last 90 days; 16 in the last 30 days; 5,025 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 22, 2017
- Medical certificate: BasicMed (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,363 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 5, 2017
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental W670-6N (piston); 12 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AJO Corona CA at 6:30 pm
- Destination: CNO Chino CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26R, 4,858 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 20,000 ft
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 6:53 pm from KCNO
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 February 1, 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 | Accident Photo | 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.
Other NTSB records under N1431C 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.