Kalamazoo-Battle Creek Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Kalamazoo, Michigan 49002
Saturday, June 26, 1999 16:10 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The airplane ground looped while landing. The pilot reported the winds were light and variable from the southeast, for the landing on runway 23. He stated there was no crosswind correction required during the approach and landing. The pilot stated the airplane veered sharply to the left during the landing roll and he was unable to correct the movement. The right main gear collapsed and the airplane came to rest facing the direction opposite the landing. Local winds at the time of the accident were reported as variable at six knots. The pilot reported being told that at the time of the landing the wind sock was straight out and perpendicular to the runway. No evidence of a brake failure/malfunction was discovered during the post accident inspection of the airplane.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during landing. A factor was the variable wind condition.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/26/1999
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1610
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City KALAMAZOO
Event State MICHIGAN
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 49002
Event Date Year 1999
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport KALAMAZOO-BATTLE CREEK
Event Location Nearest Airport ID AZO
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 874
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1610 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID AZO
Elevation of weather observation facility 874
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 4700
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 7
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 29
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) 6
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 562
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jun 26 1999 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1746
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Jan 23 2001 9:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2PP
NTSB Number CHI99LA199
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Boeing Stearman
Aircraft Model B75N1
Aircraft Series Identifier B75N1
Aircraft Serial Number 75-5736
Certified Max Gross Weight 3200
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Apr 30 1999 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 5
Airframe Hours 739
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name KALAMAZOO AVIATION HISTORY MUS
Aircraft Owner Street Address 3101 E. MILHAM ROAD
Aircraft Owner City KALAMAZOO
Aircraft Owner State MI
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 49002
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code AZO
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1550
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code AZO
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 23 2001 11:29AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 23
Runway Length 3999
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --