Stearman A-75-N1 accident near Medford, Oregon, May 1, 1988
On May 1, 1988 at about 10:44 pm local time, a Stearman A-75-N1, registered N53125, was substantially damaged in an accident near Medford, Oregon. 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
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
- May 1, 1988 · about 10:44 pm local time
- Place
- Medford, Oregon · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Stearman A-75-N1
- Registration
- N53125 · registry record · serial 75-1773
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
PLT PERFORMED A NEGATIVE 'G' MANEUVER, ESTIMATED AT 2 TO 2.5 NEGATIVE 'G' FORCE, FOLLOWING WHICH THE ENGINE LOST POWER. A FORCED LANDING WAS ACCOMPLISHED IN SCRUB TREES. THE ENGINE IS EQUIPPED WITH A FLOAT CARBURETOR. THERE WERE INDICATIONS THAT THE CAUSE OF POWER LOSS WAS NEGATIVE 'G' DISPLACEMENT OF ONE OR BOTH FLOATS IN THE CARBURETOR BOWL (STUCK FLOAT), RESULTING IN FUEL STARVATION.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 2,455 hours in all; 475 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 2,400 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,392 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 2, 1987
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-985-AN3 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MFR Medford OR at 8:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; scat at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:53 pm from MFR, 3 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.
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.