Hall MAXAIR DRIFTER N9238V

Summary

On 12 June 2005 at about 23:30 local time, a Hall MAXAIR DRIFTER registered N9238V was involved in an accident near Gloucester, Virginia, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

12 June 2005 at 23:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Gloucester, Virginia, United States

Coordinates

37.4022, -76.5178

Aircraft

Hall MAXAIR DRIFTER

Registration

N9238V

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Gloucester → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC05LA096

1 person died.

The in-flight separation of the empennage, which resulted in a loss of control and subsequent impact with the ground.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

According to witnesses, the pilot left a picnic he was attending because he "needed to take pictures." The pilot stated he was "going to get his airplane" and shortly after the witnesses saw the airplane pass overhead at an altitude of about 200 feet. The airplane made several passes, "buzzing" the crowd, and then witnesses observed the tail section of the airplane "wobble, and then break off." The airplane then pitched nose down and impacted the ground. Examination of the airplane revealed that the empennage was separated from the fuselage at the tail boom attachment point. Corrosion was observed on the tail boom attachment points, as well as numerous other critical areas of the aircraft.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.