Boeing A75N1(PT17) accident near Mesa, Arizona, October 12, 2023
On October 12, 2023 at about 5:00 pm local time, a 1943 Boeing A75N1(PT17), registered N4777V, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Mesa, Arizona (Phoenix-Mesa Gateway airport). It was an instructional 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 flight instructor’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll, which resulted in a ground loop.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 12, 2023 · about 5:00 pm local time · cases in 2023
- Place
- Mesa, Arizona · Phoenix-Mesa Gateway · 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
- Boeing A75N1(PT17), built 1943 · all A75N1(PT17)s on the register
- Registration
- N4777V · registry record · serial 75-5733
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight instructor of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, while demonstrating a wheel landing during an instructional flight with a student in the rear seat, the nose swerved to the right upon lowering the tailwheel. The pilot corrected with left rudder input, but the airplane ground looped to the right, resulting in substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident 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 (landing roll) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Instructor/check pilot
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,000 hours in all; 2,000 in this make and model
- Last flight review: August 11, 2022
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (waiver time limited special)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 210 hours in all; 9 in this make and model
- Last flight review: August 31, 2022
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,000 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 6, 2023
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming R-680 (piston); 2,000 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KFFZ Mesa AZ at 4:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 12L, 9,300 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.76 inHg
- Observation at 9:50 am from KIWA, 1 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KIWA 121650Z VRB03KT 10SM CLR 24/07 A2976=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N4777V 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
- N4777V on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Boeing A75 Stearman Kaydet 978 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Boeing 6,676 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Lycoming R-680 219 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Mesa Gateway Airport · nearest airport
- Falcon Field · departed from
- Accidents and incidents in Arizona 2,985 since 1982 · 468 in the last ten years
- Arizona 8,422 aircraft registered
- Other NTSB records under N4777V 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/WPR24LA015.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.