Detrick Donald G DETRICK DA-2 N4307Q

Summary

On 15 November 2022 at about 20:30 local time, a Detrick Donald G DETRICK DA-2 registered N4307Q was involved in an accident near Oak Hill, Florida, 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

15 November 2022 at 20:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Oak Hill, Florida, United States

Nearest airport

Blue Ridge Flightpark (34FD)

Coordinates

28.8543, -80.9076

Aircraft

Detrick Donald G DETRICK DA-2

Registration

N4307Q

Category

Airplane

Year built

1995

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Oak hill → Venise

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA23FA060

1 person died.

The student pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the takeoff roll, which resulted in a runway excursion and collision with a tree.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The student pilot purchased the experimental amateur-built, tailwheel-equipped airplane on the morning of the accident. Witnesses reported seeing the accident airplane taxi up and down the runway several times, followed by a takeoff attempt at full engine power. During the takeoff roll, the airplane never became airborne and instead veered left, departed the runway, and impacted a tree. Examination of the airplane revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical anomalies that would have prevented normal operation. The seller of the airplane stated that he owned the airplane about 2 years and had accrued only 3 hours of flight time in it. He stated that the airplane’s flight controls were “very sensitive.” The seller reported that he asked the accident pilot if he had any flight hours in a tailwheel airplane, and the pilot reported that he had “a few.” The student pilot reported 70 total hours of flight experience on his most recent medical certificate application over 4 years before the accident. His pilot logbook was not located, and no determination could be made about any recent flight experience, tailwheel experience, or experience in the accident airplane make and model. The circumstances of the accident are consistent with the pilot’s loss of control during takeoff. Although toxicological testing revealed an over-the-counter sedating antihistamine, it is not likely that his use of this medication contributed to the accident.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.