Smyth Sidewinder TD N60JV

Summary

On 20 August 2022 at about 18:31 local time, a Smyth Sidewinder TD registered N60JV was involved in an accident near Wichita Falls, Texas, 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

20 August 2022 at 18:31

Classification

Accident

Location

Wichita Falls, Texas, United States

Nearest airport

Wichita Valley (F14)

Coordinates

33.9482, -98.6154

Aircraft

Smyth Sidewinder TD

Registration

N60JV

Category

Airplane

Year built

1998

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Waldron

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR22FA311

1 person died.

The pilot’s inexperience with the airplane and inadequate takeoff procedures, which led to exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack and an aerodynamic stall during takeoff.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot purchased the experimental, amateur-built airplane on the morning of the accident. He was planning to fly the airplane to his home airport in a different state. That morning, the previous owner and the pilot reviewed the maintenance logbooks, airplane characteristics, checklists, and examined the airframe and engine. After a thorough review, they started the engine and completed a run-up. The previous owner offered to stay in the airplane so the pilot could practice taking off and landing. The pilot declined and the previous owner exited the airplane. Witnesses observed the airplane align with the runway centerline and begin to accelerate. The pilot appeared to be making a 3-point takeoff with all the landing gear remaining on the runway surface. The airplane then became airborne at a slow speed and climbed to about 50-75 feet above ground level (agl). The airplane assumed a nose-high attitude and stalled as the left wing dropped down and collided with terrain adjacent to the runway; the airplane erupted into flames. The 87-year-old pilot had over 20,000 hours of total flight experience but had never flown the accident airplane.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.