Stearman Aircraft C3-B accident near Spokane, Washington, July 16, 2011
On July 16, 2011 at about 10:00 pm local time, a Stearman Aircraft C3-B, registered N3440, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Spokane, Washington (Felts Field). 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 on landing. Contributing to the accident was the touch down in a slide-slip.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 16, 2011 · about 10:00 pm local time · cases in 2011
- Place
- Spokane, Washington · Felts Field · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Stearman Aircraft C3-B · all C3-Bs on the register
- Registration
- N3440 · registry record · serial 104
- 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 he was involved in a biplane fly-in that was going on at the time of the accident. According to a Federal Aviation Administration inspector, witnesses observed the airplane in a left side-slip during landing. The airplane subsequently touched down in the side-slip on the left wheel. The pilot applied full right rudder to compensate, then right brake to straighten out the airplane; however, the left landing gear strut collapsed, and the airplane entered into a slow speed ground loop, substantially damaging the lower wing. The pilot stated there were no pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal flight.
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 (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Landing gear collapse during landing (flare/touchdown)
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
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 24,341 hours in all; 118 in this make and model; 31 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 24,341 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 27, 2011
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,188 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 26, 2011; 8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental W 670-6N (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SFF Spokane WA at 10:00 pm
- Destination: SFF Spokane WA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 21L, 3,059 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 126° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 29.77 inHg
- Observation at 9:55 pm from KSFF
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on August 17, 2011. 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 | Record of Conversation - FAA | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Photo 1: Picture of Damage to Left Main Gear - Courtesy of FAA | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Photo 2: Picture of Fuselage Attach Point - Courtesy of FAA | 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 N3440 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N3440 on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Stearman Aircraft C3 17 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Stearman Aircraft 33 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Continental W 670-6N 52 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Felts Field · nearest airport
- Accidents and incidents in Washington 2,713 since 1982 · 362 in the last ten years
- Washington 10,644 aircraft registered
- Other NTSB records under N3440 1 records · the number may have belonged to another aircraft at the time
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/WPR11CA336.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.