Stearman A75N1(PT17) accident near New Orleans, Louisiana, October 6, 2018
On October 6, 2018 at about 4:15 pm local time, a 1944 Stearman A75N1(PT17), registered N56949, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near New Orleans, Louisiana (Lakefront 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).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during a crosswind landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 6, 2018 · about 4:15 pm local time
- Place
- New Orleans, Louisiana · Lakefront · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Stearman A75N1(PT17) Undesignat, built 1944
- Registration
- N56949 · registry record · serial 752793
- 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, while landing in a crosswind, the tailwheel-equipped biplane was "thrusted downward violently" and landed hard. He added that the biplane then veered right off the runway. He then attempted a go-around, but after applying power, realized the need for full left aileron to maintain heading. He decided to abort the go-around and reduced power to land. During the landing, he used brakes to avoid airport signs in the landing path, the right main tire "got some traction," and the biplane ground looped to the right. The biplane sustained substantial damage to both lower wings and the elevator. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the biplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that the wind was from 110° at 15 knots and that terrain-induced moderate turbulence existed. The automated weather observation system at the airport reported the following about the time of the accident: temperature 88°F, dew point 75°F, visibility 10 miles, wind from 110° at 11 knots, and a broken layer of clouds at 2,800 ft. The pilot was landing the biplane on runway 18L.
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
- Other weather encounter during landing
- Hard landing during landing
- Loss of control on ground during landing defining event
- Attempted remediation/recovery during approach (VFR go-around)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
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
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,631 hours in all; 251 in this make and model
- Last flight review: October 4, 2017
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,674 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, December 23, 2017
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney R-985 Series (piston); 459 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ASD Slidell LA at 3:30 pm
- Destination: NEW New Orleans LA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18L, 3,697 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,800 ft
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 4:43 pm from KNEW, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number GAA19CA009.