Boeing Stearman PT17 N61467

Summary

On 25 June 1999 at about 14:00 local time, a Boeing Stearman PT17 registered N61467 was involved in an accident near Lock Haven, Pennsylvania, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

25 June 1999 at 14:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Lock Haven, Pennsylvania, United States

Coordinates

41.1291, -77.4495

Aircraft

Boeing Stearman PT17

Registration

N61467

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

IAD99LA050

1 person was seriously injured.

the pilot's improper inflight decision to fly at an inadequate altitude and his improper visual lookout which resulted in a collision with wires.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot stated that while in cruise flight, above a river, the airplane 'apparently struck an unseen object and departed controlled flight.' He thought the object was an unmarked cable that ran across the river. He had noticed these cables on previous flights because they were usually marked with orange balls. The pilot stated there were no mechanical deficiencies that may have led to the accident. A witness observed the aircraft pitch up, roll hard to the left, impact the ground 'straight up and down', and catch fire. An FAA Inspector reported there were telephone wires 50-150 feet high across the river.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.