Ratliff HUMMEL BIRD N707TR

Summary

On 19 July 2005 at about 14:45 local time, a Ratliff HUMMEL BIRD registered N707TR was involved in an accident near Pittsville, Maryland, 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

19 July 2005 at 14:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Pittsville, Maryland, United States

Nearest airport

Davis Airstrip (6MD8)

Coordinates

38.4422, -75.4033

Aircraft

Ratliff HUMMEL BIRD

Registration

N707TR

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Pittsville → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC05LA121

1 person died.

A loss of control for undetermined reasons, which resulted in an uncontrolled descent into terrain.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot had been building the accident airplane sporadically for approximately 11 years. The accident flight was the pilot's first flight in the airplane, and he had no record of prior flight experience in the same model as the accident airplane. Prior to departure, the pilot performed several high-speed taxis on a 2,750-foot-long, 105-foot-wide, turf runway. During the departure climb, about 200 feet agl, the airplane slowly rolled right and descended into a field about 2,000 feet beyond the end of the runway. Examination of the airplane confirmed flight control continuity, and did not reveal any pre-impact mechanical malfunctions with the airframe or engine.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.