Boeing PT-13D N68830

Summary

On 19 December 2025 at about 21:10 local time, a Boeing PT-13D registered N68830 was involved in an accident near El Cajon, California, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

19 December 2025 at 21:10

Classification

Accident

Location

El Cajon, California, United States

Nearest airport

Gillespie Fld (SEE)

Coordinates

32.8270, -116.9680

Aircraft

Boeing PT-13D

Registration

N68830

Category

Airplane

Year built

1943

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR26LA066

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped biplane reported that he was performing a three-point landing. After an uneventful touchdown the airplane drifted to the right. The pilot attempted to compensate using left aileron and full-aft elevator control inputs. He applied partial engine power and the airplane then veered to left. The airplane continued off the left side of the runway, and ground-looped to the left. During the sequence, both lower wings struck the ground. The left lower wing and aileron received substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation and stated that the accident was simply the result of a loss of control.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.