Eagle DW-1 N8805D

Summary

On 7 June 2004 at about 16:35 local time, a Eagle DW-1 registered N8805D was involved in an accident near Circleville, Utah, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

7 June 2004 at 16:35

Classification

Accident

Location

Circleville, Utah, United States

Nearest airport

Junction (U13)

Coordinates

38.9799, -109.1301

Aircraft

Eagle DW-1

Registration

N8805D

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Junction → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

DEN04LA086

1 person had minor injuries.

the encounter with severe turbulence during aerial application and the pilot's inability to maintain aircraft control resulting in the in-flight collision with terrain. A contributing factor was the low altitude.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot was applying pesticide to a 100-acre alfalfa field. He said the winds were from the southwest at approximately 7 knots. He had completed the north end of the field while flying in a "racetrack" pattern from west to east. Because of the rising terrain to the east of the field, he decided to complete the pesticide application while flying in both directions. During a "right standard reversal turn," the airplane encountered "extreme turbulence" which caused the airplane to roll to the right. The pilot stated that he added full power and pointed the nose down to regain control. Although the pilot was able to get the wings level, the buffeting and turbulence was so "severe" that the airplane did not respond and continued to "sink rapidly." As the pilot attempted to release the remaining pesticide, the airplane's lower left wing struck the rough and uneven terrain and the airplane cartwheeled. The airplane was destroyed by a postimpact fire.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.