Boeing A75N1 (PT-17) accident near Seattle, Washington, August 16, 2014
On August 16, 2014 at about 6:30 pm local time, a 1941 Boeing A75N1 (PT-17), registered B719BL, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Seattle, Washington (Boeing Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadequate flare and failure to maintain aircraft control during landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 16, 2014 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Seattle, Washington · Boeing Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Boeing A75N1 (PT-17), built 1941 · all A75N1 (PT-17)s on the register
- Registration
- B719BL · no longer on the register · serial 75-2246
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot had an uneventful departure on his first solo flight to remain in the traffic pattern. Shortly after, the pilot reported that he was having problems with the radio and communications with the tower controller. The pilot decided to land with a full stop to have the radio repaired. On the first landing attempt the airplane bounced and the pilot initiated a go-around. On the second landing attempt, the airplane floated down the runway and suddenly lost lift and bounced again. The pilot aborted the landing and applied power. The airplane subsequently veered left into the grass field between the runways and nosed over after colliding with a berm which resulted in substantial damage to the wing. At the time of the accident, the pilot reported a light tailwind. The pilot further reported no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Loss of control on ground during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Not attained/maintained
- 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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 130 hours in all; 47 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 110 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Last flight review: December 10, 2013
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 37 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 2, 2014
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Jacobs R-755B2M (piston); 37 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KBFI Seattle WA at 6:00 pm
- Destination: KBFI Seattle WA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 13R, 10,000 ft by 200 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.09 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 am from KBFI
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 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.