N62897

On November 11, 2002, about 1440 eastern standard time, a Boeing Stearman A75, N62897, was substantially damaged during a forced landing in Glade Spring, Virginia. The certificated private pilot, and pilot rated passenger received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local flight that originated from Abingdon, Virginia. No flight plan had been filed for the personal fight that was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

According to an inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the accident airplane was part of a three airplane formation that had conducted a fly-by at a nearby Veterans Day celebration. At the completion of the fly-by, the three airplanes headed back to Abingdon. In the vicinity of Glade Spring, while two airplanes continued on to Abingdon, the pilot of the accident airplane broke formation, and descended. Several witnesses observed the accident airplane performing low level flight, below the level of the surrounding hills. The pilot reported that the pilot rated passenger was not handling the flight controls at the time of the accident.

According to the pilot, he was maneuvering at a low altitude when the engine lost power, and could not clear a tree ahead of him. There was no suitable terrain that he could reach, and the airplane struck the tree, and came to rest inverted. The pilot reported that he added carburetor heat, moved the throttle, verified that the mixture was rich, and tried different positions on the magneto switch. but was unable to restore power to the engine. He also stated that the airplane had been operated for about one hour and the fuel tank was full at departure.

The FAA inspector reported that fuel was found in the fuel tank, the propeller was fragmented, the engine had separated from the airframe. The carburetor was crushed, and the fuel line that ran from the fuselage to the engine were separated, and no fuel remained in the line. The FAA inspector reported that he checked the fuel lines from the tank to the engine and there was no indication of obstructions in the lines. The upper and lower right side wings were destroyed, and the upper and lower left side wings had received substantial damage.