Stearman B75N1 accident near Benton, Arkansas, November 13, 1988
On November 13, 1988 at about 5:30 pm local time, a Stearman B75N1, registered N2158P, was substantially damaged in an accident near Benton, Arkansas (Benton/Saline CO. 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 NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 13, 1988 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Benton, Arkansas · Benton/Saline CO. · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Stearman B75N1
- Registration
- N2158P · registry record · serial 75-6861
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE FLT WAS UNEVENTFUL UNTIL THE LANDING AT THE SALINE COUNTY ARPT, BENTON, ARK. THE PIC STATED HE APPLIED TOO MUCH BRAKE AND APPLIED IT PREMATURELY DURING THE LANDING ROLL AND THE ACFT NOSED OVER TO THE INVERTED POSN. THE RESULTANT IMPACT CRUSHED THE VERTICAL STABILIZER AND RUDDER.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,000 hours in all; 5 in this make and model; 80 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 4,000 as pilot in command; 3,000 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 9, 1988; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,810 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental W-670-6N (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 1M1 North Ltl Rock AR at 5:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 4,090 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:52 pm from LIT, 22 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 N2158P 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.