Plane Ground Loops On Landing In Gusty Conditions

Both pilot and passenger of a postwar-era vintage Stearman biplane were up and walking around shortly after their plane ground-looped on landing at an Idaho airstrip Thursday.

KPVI-6 reports the aircraft was attempting to land at Driggs-Reed Memorial Airport (DIJ) in gusty conditions when the wind apparently got under one of the plane's wings, and flipped it over. The open-cockpit plane slid on its upper wing off the runway, and into the grass alongside.

Owner and pilot Brent Blue, and his passenger, escaped serious injury.

"We're grateful that there was not a fire," said Assistant Fire Chief Brett Campbell. "There was a small leak and we were able to manage that. We are pleased with the quick response from all three branches of our emergency services here in our valley and I believe we were all on scene in two minutes."

Campbell added the department is looking to add a dedicated airport rescue vehicle, due to growth at the airport and the Teton County region.

IDENTIFICATION
  Regis#: 19BB        Make/Model: D75       Description: BOEING D75N1 STEARMAN
  Date: 06/26/2008     Time: 0000

  Event Type: Accident   Highest Injury: None     Mid Air: N    Missing: N
  Damage: Substantial

LOCATION
  City: DRIGGS   State: ID   Country: US

DESCRIPTION
  AIRCRAFT ON LANDING, GROUND LOOPED, DRIGGS, ID

INJURY DATA      Total Fatal:   0
                 # Crew:   1     Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   
                 # Pass:   1     Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   
                 # Grnd:         Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   

WEATHER: UNK

OTHER DATA
  Activity: Unknown      Phase: Landing      Operation: OTHER

  FAA FSDO: SALT LAKE CITY, UT  (NM07)            Entry date: 06/27/2008

FMI: www.faa.gov