De Havilland TIGER MOTH DH 82A N28681

Summary

On 15 November 2014 at about 15:30 local time, a De Havilland TIGER MOTH DH 82A registered N28681, operated by Harwell David C, was involved in an accident near Williamson, Georgia, United States. 2 people were on board and one was seriously injured, 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

15 November 2014 at 15:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Williamson, Georgia, United States

Nearest airport

Peach State (GA2)

Coordinates

33.1833, -84.3717

Aircraft

De Havilland TIGER MOTH DH 82A

Registration

N28681

Category

Airplane

Year built

1945

Engines

1

Operator

Harwell David C

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Williamson → Williamson

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA15LA052

1 person was seriously injured.

The pilot’s failure to maintain airspeed while maneuvering, which led to the airplane exceeding its critical angle-of-attack and experiencing an aerodynamic stall at an insufficient altitude to fully recover before collision with obstacles and terrain.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

According to the pilot, the airplane's engine power and performance were "good," and the airplane demonstrated its "gentle" handling characteristics through both left and right 30-degree banking turns. The airplane crossed the airport about traffic pattern altitude and then entered a vertical, nose-down descent. The pilot reported that he could not recall how the airplane transitioned from level flight to a nose-down descent. However, it is likely that the pilot did not maintain airspeed and that the airplane exceeded its critical angle-of-attack. During the descent, the pilot held the control stick fully aft, and the elevator gained enough authority to allow him to level the airplane just above ground level as he flew it between a parked airplane and the airport restaurant. The airplane then collided with a flagpole, the restaurant, and terrain before coming to rest upright. The pilot said that, once the airspeed increased sufficiently during the descent, he had full flight control authority. He reported that there were no mechanical deficiencies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.