Vintage Boeing-Stearman A75N1 Inverts During Landing at Shellharbour Airport, NSW – Australia

Date:
09-MAR-2024

Type of Aircraft:
Boeing-Stearman A75N1

Owner/Operator:
Private

Registration:
VH-ZYZ

MSN:
75-1439

Year of Manufacture:
1941

Engine Model:
Jacobs Aircraft Company R-755-B2M

Fatalities:
0 / Occupants: 2

Aircraft Damage:
Substantial

Location:
Shellharbour Airport (YSHL), Albion Park Rail, NSW – Australia

Phase:
Landing

Nature:
Private

Departure Airport:
[Departure Airport]

Destination Airport:
Shellharbour Airport, NSW (WOL/YSHL)

Circumstances:

**A Boeing-Stearman A75N1 biplane ended its landing at Shellharbour Airport in an unexpected position, coming to rest inverted on the runway. The incident, which caused substantial damage to the aircraft’s left wing and horizontal stabilizer, saw the pilot and a female passenger in their 50s emerge remarkably unscathed. Following the crash, emergency services, including HAZMAT firefighters, swiftly responded to manage a fuel spill of 70 liters, effectively containing the potential hazard. Both individuals were assessed by paramedics at the scene, with the passenger subsequently transported to Shellharbour Hospital for further observation. The specific circumstances leading to the biplane’s inverted landing are currently under investigation to determine the underlying cause and to enhance future aviation safety measures.**