Massey CHRISTEN EAGLE II N72BJ
20 August 1998 · Galveston, Texas, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 20 August 1998 at about 21:00 local time, a Massey CHRISTEN EAGLE II registered N72BJ was involved in an accident near Galveston, Texas, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 21:00
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Galveston, Texas, United States
- Nearest airport
- Scholes Field Airport (GLS)
- Coordinates
- 29.3002, -94.7900
- Aircraft
- Massey CHRISTEN EAGLE II
- Registration
- N72BJ
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- FTW98LA368
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Probable cause
The inflight structural failure of the wing spars for the lower wings due to an undetermined reason.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
The commercial pilot reported that the in-flight structural failure of the wing spars for the lower wings on a homebuilt experimental biplane. The pilot reported that the airplane was in a shallow dive at an airspeed of 190 to 200 mph, while at an altitude of 4,200 feet above ground level, when he felt a flutter, accompanied by a severe airframe vibration. He also observed the flying wires on the biplane lose their tension 'and make large loops.' The pilot added that the airplane 'may have rolled or tumbled.' He regained control of the airplane after reducing engine power and landed the airplane without further incident. Examination of the airplane by the pilot revealed that all four lower wing spars (forward and aft) failed in flight. The pilot recommended a redesign of the drag and anti-drag blocks at the compression ribs. However, the reason for the failure of the lower wing spars could not be conclusively determined.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 Jan 1998 | Beechcraft V35 | Seguin, Texas, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 14 Jan 1998 | Poling KELEHER LARK KR1B | Georgetown, Texas, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 24 Jan 1998 | Cessna 140A | Justin, Texas, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 24 Jul 1998 | Bell 206L-3 | Reklaw, Texas, United States | U.s. Forest Service | Minor injuries | - |
| 29 Aug 1998 | Jodel F11-3 | Beeville, Texas, United States | - | Fatal | 2 |
| 29 Aug 1998 | Piper PA-28-235 | Mineola, Texas, United States | - | No injuries | - |