David Shotwell MURPHY N235DS

Summary

On 9 June 2019 at about 19:15 local time, a David Shotwell MURPHY registered N235DS was involved in an accident near South Lake Tahoe, California, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

9 June 2019 at 19:15

Classification

Accident

Location

South Lake Tahoe, California, United States

Nearest airport

South Lake Tahoe (TVL)

Coordinates

38.8939, -119.9953

Aircraft

David Shotwell MURPHY

Registration

N235DS

Category

Airplane

Year built

2000

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

South Lake Taho → South Lake Taho

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

GAA19CA324

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to properly tighten his seat belt, which allowed him to slide forward in his seat and resulted in his inadvertent application of excessive brake application during the landing roll and a subsequent noseover.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that, during the landing roll, the airplane's ground speed was about 30 knots when he applied the brakes lightly, and the tailwheel lifted off the ground. His seatbelt, which was not tightened, allowed him to slide forward in his seat, and he inadvertently applied more brake pressure, which resulted in the airplane nosing over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right-wing lift strut and the rudder. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.