Neither The Pilot Nor His Passenger Are Injured

Update: A video released by CBS News shows the Stearman biplane which crashed on landing at Reagan national Airport Tuesday did not ground loop as originally reported, but rather flipped over on its nose just after touchdown. The accident is indicative of a problem with the brakes on the aircraft, The NTSB is continuing its investigation.

Original Story: A Stearman biplane landing at Washington's Reagan National Airport ground looped and flipped over on the runway Tuesday morning, which caused the airport's main runway to temporarily close. An airport spokesperson said the accident occurred at around 1020 EDT.

Stearman File Photo

The plane was taking part in a publicity appearance to promote the National Air and Space Museum's "Legends of Flight" 3D IMAX documentary. General aviation operations are normally severely curtailed at Reagan, but the flight of eight Stearmans had been given special clearance for the landing.

The accident was caught on videotape by a reporter from The Washington Post who was riding along in the aircraft that flipped. Multiple media sources including Washington's NBC4 television station report that both the pilot, Mike Truschel of the Flying Circus Aerodrome in Warrenton, VA and Post transportation reporter Ashley Halsey were not injured in the accident.

The video shows a normal-looking approach to landing, but just after touchdown, the plane ground loops and flips over onto its back. Truschel is heard asking Halsey if he's OK, and then telling him to "get away from the airplane", and it later shows the aircraft on its back on the runway.

The NTSB has dispatched an investigation team to begin looking into the accident.

FMI: www.flyingcircusairshow.com, www.ntsb.gov