Event NYC01LA011

Factual narrative

On October 7, 2000, about 1430 Eastern Daylight Time, a Boeing B75-N1 Stearman, N1066M, was substantially damaged while landing at the Flying Circus Aerodrome Airport (3VA3), Warrenton, Virginia. The certificated private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed for the local personal flight that was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. According to the pilot, he departed 3VA3, and flew to the Culpeper Regional Airport (CJR), Culpeper, Virginia, to perform a "fly-over and balloon-bust" as part of an air show. He then returned to 3VA3 for landing. The airplane was landing on Runway 34, a 2,500 foot-long, 150 foot-wide, turf runway. The pilot stated that after he observed two other airplanes land, he noted the winds were from the northwest, and elected to perform a "wheel landing," instead of the "normal 3-pt, stall landing." After touchdown, the airplane bounced twice on its main landing gear, and then suddenly pitched over. The pilot further stated "I believe I had inadvertently slid my feet too high on the rudder pedals and hit the brakes on the second bounce. The pilot also stated he did not experience any mechanical problems with the airplane. The pilot reported 872 hours of total flight experience, which included 600 hours accumulated in tail-wheeled airplanes, and 105 hours in the make and model of the accident airplane. The wind reported at CJR, which was located about 8 miles, west-southwest of the accident site, at 1422, was from 350 degrees at 6 knots. During touchdown, the airplane bounced twice on its main landing gear, and then suddenly pitched over. The pilot stated 'I believe I had inadvertently slid my feet too high on the rudder pedals and hit the brakes on the second bounce. The pilot also stated he did not experience any mechanical problems with the airplane. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12