Vintage Stearman Biplane Crashes at Washington National Airport

8 June 2010; Arlington, VA; Boeing Stearman PT-17 - The airplane, which was built in 1943 as a World War II training aircraft, turned over as it was landing on Reagan National airport's main runway just after 10 a.m. local time. The plane was the second of eight Stearmans attempting a landing. The planes were publicizing the premiere of the 3-D IMAX film "Legends of Flight," which was to be held later that night at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum.

Flying in from Manassas, VA, the accident aircraft touched down at and briefly rolled at about 70 mph before flipping on its back. Both the pilot and the passenger, the Washington Post's transportation reporter, Ashley Halsey III, were apparently unharmed.

The accident bent and curled two of the propeller's blades, and it damaged the plane's tail, rudder, vertical stabilizer, right wing and part of the engine. The NTSB is investigating the accident.

According to NTSB records, Stearmans have been involved in 16 fatal accidents in the US since 1966.

Video from the accident aircraft




Footage from a different vantage point





Boeing-Stearman Model 75

Boeing-Stearman Model 75

Photo Credit: cliff1066™