Boeing A75N1(PT17) accident near Ventura, California, May 23, 2021
On May 23, 2021 at about 2:18 am local time, a 1942 Boeing A75N1(PT17), registered N87WF, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute near Ventura, California. 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 partial loss of engine power, during cruise flight, due to the formation of carburetor ice, which resulted in a forced landing to an open field where the airplane nosed over.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 23, 2021 · about 2:18 am local time
- Place
- Ventura, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Boeing A75N1(PT17), built 1942 · all A75N1(PT17)s on the register
- Registration
- N87WF · registry record · serial 75-3347
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the tailwheel equipped airplane reported that, while in cruse flight, about 1,200 to 1,500 ft above ground level (agl), near the Pacific coast, in visible moisture, the engine began to run rough. He applied full throttle and full carburetor heat. The engine initially regained power but again began to lose power at a progressively worsening rate. Concerned that he could not continue to the nearest airport he elected to land on a field. During the landing roll, the main landing gear impacted an irrigation line and the airplane nosed over coming to rest inverted. The rudder was substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation. Examination of the carburetor heat system by an airframe & powerplant mechanic revealed no mechanical anomalies. Weather conditions reported at the time of the accident were conducive for serious carburetor icing at any power setting.
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 (partial) during enroute defining event
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Temp/humidity/pressure › Conducive to carburetor icing › Effect on equipment
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Ground equipment › Contributed to outcome
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Delayed action › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,850 hours in all; 130 in this make and model; 150 in the last 90 days; 60 in the last 30 days; 2,150 as pilot in command; 400 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,487 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 8, 2021; 130 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental R670 (piston); 320 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: IZA Santa Ynez CA at 1:45 pm
- Destination: SZP Santa Paula CA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.05 inHg
- Observation at 6:51 am from KOXR, 7 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KOXR 221351Z 03005KT 10SM CLR 11/06 A3005 RMK AO2 SLP176 T01060061
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
6 documents, released by the NTSB on August 20, 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 (Pilot) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Memo for Record Weather Report | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Memo for Record A & P Mechanic | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Icing Probability Chart | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 6 | Photo | 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.
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.