Boeing B75N accident near Willimantic, Maine, October 28, 1989
On October 28, 1989 at about 9:00 pm local time, a Boeing B75N, registered N68972, was substantially damaged in an accident near Willimantic, Maine (Two Falls airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
AN INADVERTENT STALL CLEARING TREES DURING A FORCED LANDING FOLLOWING A POWER LOSS DUE TO A FUEL LINE SEPARATING FROM THE CARBURETOR AND FUEL STARVATION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 28, 1989 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Willimantic, Maine · Two Falls
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Boeing B75N · all B75Ns on the register
- Registration
- N68972 · registry record · serial 75-5066
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE BOEING MODEL 75 STEARMAN WAS ON A LOCAL FLIGHT APPROXIMATELY ONE MILE FROM THE AIRPORT WHEN A POWER LOSS OCCURRED. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO RETURN TO THE AIRPORT FOR A DOWNWIND LANDING, HOWEVER HE WAS TOO HIGH. HE ENTERED AN INADVERTENT STALL CLEARING TREES WHILE DOING A SERIES OF TURNS AND SLIPS TO LOSE ALTITUDE FOR A LANDING. POST CRASH EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT SHOWED THAT A BRASS FITTING FOR THE FUEL LINE INTO THE CARBURETOR WAS CRACKED AND HAD SEPARATED.
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; multi-engine sea; single-engine land; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 2,716 hours in all; 11 in this make and model; 29 in the last 90 days; 2,636 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 68 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,717 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental W670-6A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ME79 Willimantic ME at 8:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 13, 1,700 ft by 45 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.
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.