Dufault Mark V PITTS S-1D N511MD

Summary

On 9 September 2008 at about 23:00 local time, a Dufault Mark V PITTS S-1D registered N511MD was involved in an accident near Ridgely, 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

9 September 2008 at 23:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Ridgely, Maryland, United States

Nearest airport

Ridgely Airpark (RJD)

Coordinates

38.9700, -75.8664

Aircraft

Dufault Mark V PITTS S-1D

Registration

N511MD

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Ridgely → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

IMC

Light

Dusk

NTSB number

NYC08LA310

1 person died.

The pilot's inadequate preflight weather evaluation which resulted in an attempted landing in fog and subsequent impact with terrain.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

During an attempted landing in fog at an uncontrolled airport, when the airplane impacted terrain. The pilot did not hold a valid Federal Aviation Administration medical certificate and did not possess an instrument rating. The airplane was unregistered, and was not equipped for flight in instrument conditions. The pilot had departed the airport sometime after 1800 eastern daylight time on the day of the accident, and returned to the airport approximately one hour later just prior to sunset. Preceding the departure a small temperature dew point spread existed, and the wind velocity had decreased until the wind was calm. During the accident flight, the temperature and dew point spread converged, which resulted in the formation of fog. No record of the pilot having received a weather briefing prior to the flight was discovered.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.