Dresbach RV-4 N61CD

Summary

On 26 May 1997 at about 15:44 local time, a Dresbach RV-4 registered N61CD was involved in an accident near Bainbridge, Ohio, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

26 May 1997 at 15:44

Classification

Accident

Location

Bainbridge, Ohio, United States

Nearest airport

Haas (9I5)

Coordinates

39.2198, -83.2605

Aircraft

Dresbach RV-4

Registration

N61CD

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Chillicothe → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

IAD97LA076

1 person died.

failure of the pilot to maintain control of the airplane during the initial climb after takeoff. The pilot's physiological conditions was a possible factor.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

Witnesses reported that they observed the airplane make a normal takeoff. According to them, after starting to climb, the airplane entered a descent and crashed. They reported seeing the airplane in a right-wing low position before it impacted the ground in a nose down attitude. Examination of the airplane and the engine did not reveal any abnormalities. The pilot's last log book entry was dated 11/22/95. On 11/29/95, he had coronary artery bypass surgery. On 5/15/97, the FAA Aeromedical Certification Division denied the pilot a medical certificate 'due to objective evidence of myocardial ischemia by radionuclide scintigraphy.' An autopsy report of the pilot noted 'minimal cardiac tissue' for examination. Toxicology testing detected unspecified levels of metoprolol (a medication which reduces the heart rate response to stress) in the pilot's blood and liver fluid.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.