Probable cause
The owner/pilot's improper flare. Contributing to the accident was the pilot-in-command's inadequate remedial action.
NTSB analysis
At its home airport, a Boeing E75 was purposely landed in the grass adjacent to the runway. The airplane touched down hard, the left main landing gear strut separated from the airplane, the right main landing gear strut bent, the propeller struck the ground, and the lower left wing spar broke. Their were no injuries to the owner/pilot who was flying the airplane from the rear cockpit, or his friend, who according to the owner, was acting as pilot-in-command since his flight review was "expired."
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for NYC08CA274 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Aug 8, 2008
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Sterling, Massachusetts
- Nearest airport
- Sterling Airport (3B3)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Boeing E75
- N-number
- N4923N
- Category
- Airplane
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.