Stearman A75N1(PT17) accident near Sequim, Washington, April 28, 2019
On April 28, 2019 at about 8:37 pm local time, a 1942 Stearman A75N1(PT17), registered N68825, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute near Sequim, Washington. 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 total loss of engine power due to the fatigue failure of the crankshaft.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 28, 2019 · about 8:37 pm local time
- Place
- Sequim, Washington · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Stearman A75N1(PT17) Undesignat, built 1942
- Registration
- N68825 · registry record · serial 75-5708
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Shortly after takeoff for a personal flight, about 1,200 ft mean sea level, the pilot observed spraying oil and light oil smoke and detected the smell of oil coupled with an engine vibration. The pilot decided to make a forced landing. The engine vibration increased, and the engine seized before landing. The forced landing resulted in substantial damage to the right wing and fuselage. Examination of the radial engine revealed a crankshaft failure due to fatigue; beach marks (also known as arrest marks) were observed in the region of the fracture surface. The maintenance records indicated that the last engine overhaul was accomplished about 15 years before the accident. Engine time since major overhaul recorded at the last annual inspection about 9 months before the accident was 143 hours.
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 engine power (total) during enroute defining event
- Loss of engine power (total) during emergency descent
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › Recip eng cyl section › Fatigue/wear/corrosion
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; multi-engine sea; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 20,000 hours in all; 1.1 in this make and model; 225 in the last 90 days; 75 in the last 30 days; 19,000 as pilot in command; 3,000 on instruments
- Last flight review: January 31, 2019
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 555.4 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 1, 2018; 5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,635 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental W670-6A (piston); 555 hours total
- Operator: Port Townsend Aero Museum
The flight
- Departed from: 0S9 Port Townsend WA at 8:28 pm
- Destination: 0S9 Port Townsend WA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 10 knots
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on December 15, 2021. 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 with Pilot | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Engine Examination Report | PDF, 7 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.