Kurzenburger Stuka JU-87 N87DK

Summary

On 26 May 2000 at about 22:00 local time, a Kurzenburger Stuka JU-87 registered N87DK was involved in an accident near Urbana, Maryland, 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 2000 at 22:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Urbana, Maryland, United States

Nearest airport

Faux-Burhans Airport (3MD0)

Coordinates

39.3493, -77.3796

Aircraft

Kurzenburger Stuka JU-87

Registration

N87DK

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Ijamsville → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

IAD00FA044

1 person died.

The pilot's failure to obtain/maintain aircraft control after takeoff.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot departed on his first flight in the recently purchased home-built airplane, and crashed into trees and terrain shortly after takeoff. According to his wife, he had never been in the airplane while it was running, and he was only supposed to taxi the airplane and then return it to its hangar. The pilot's wife, son, and witnesses described the wings 'rocking' and the nose pitching up and down throughout the brief flight. According to one witness, 'It just seemed like he couldn't control it. Doggone, he didn't have much control of that thing on Friday. The engine sure seemed alright, he just didn't seem to have control of that damn airplane.' The pilot who delivered the airplane to the pilot and his son said the airplane experienced a pronounced break to the left when stalled. The pilot's exact flight experience could not be determined due to sporadic entries in multiple logbooks. The pilot's most recently documented biennial flight review was 2 years and 6 months prior to the accident. Examination of the wreckage revealed no mechanical anomalies and several pieces of angular cut wood, approximately 4 inches in diameter, were found around and beneath the wreckage. According to FAA advisor circular 20-27D: '...FAA inspections of amateur-built aircraft have been limited to ensuring the use of acceptable workmanship methods, techniques, practices, and issuing operating limitations necessary to protect persons and property not involved in this activity.'

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.