# Accident 20030520017469A: Amtr WRIGHTFLYER, Warrenton, VA, May 20, 2003

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 20, 2003, 21:04 local time
- Place: Warrenton, VA
- Airport: Private
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: To Init Climb(1st Pwr Reduct)
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 38.6339° N, 77.7572° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.6339&lon=-77.7572&mi=10
- Aircraft: N1911K, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1911K) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Virginia Avia & Machine WRIGHT MODEL B (registry code 05614Z1, https://openairdocs.org/model/virginia-avia-machine-wright-model-b) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG (registry code 99999, https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AMTR WRIGHTFLYER
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 35,600 total, 25 in this make and model, 25 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB NYC03LA111](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC03LA111) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030520017469A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(-23) REPORT ON THE INVESTIGATION OF AN ACCIDENT INVOLVING A WRIGHT 1911 MODEL "B" AIRCRAFT, PILOT KENNETH HYDE ATP 138265. I INTERVIEWED MR. HYDE ON MAY 20, 2003, AT 1100 AM. THE INTERVIEW TOOK PLACE AT MR. HYDE'S RESIDENCE IN WARRENTON, VA. THIS INTERVIEW WAS WITNESSED BY INSPECTORS R. LAZARIS AND LAWSON, BOTH OF EA 27. THE WRIGHT AIRCRAFT IS AN EXPERIMENTAL CRAFT, AN EXACT REPLICA OF THE ORIGINAL BEING OPERATED BY A TEAM OF PERSONS, AND FLOWN BY MR. KEN HYDE. THE TEAM WAS INVOLVED IN A SERIES OF HIGH SPEED TAXI TESTS, WHICH WERE NOT GOING VERY WELL. THE AIRCRAFT WAS EXPERIENCING SERIOUS DIRECTIONAL STABILITY PROBLEMS. AS A RESULT, THE TEAM ELECTED TO MOVE THE AIRCRAFT FROM THE PRIVATE STRIP AT MR. HYDE'S RESIDENCE TO A SOMEWHAT LARGER PRIVATE FIELD NAMED "HORSEFEATHERS". AFTER TRYING SEVERAL MORE TIMES, AND EXPERIENCING MORE DIRECTIONAL PROBLEMS, THE TEAM ELECTED TO CLEAR A SEPARATE AREA, AND TRY AGAIN. DURING TAXI, THE AIRCRAFT SUDDENLY BECAME AIRBORNE. WHEN THIS HAPPENED, MR. HYDE SAID THAT HE WAS UNSURE IF HE COULD LAND THE AIRCRAFT IN THE REMAINING SPACE, AND ELECTED TO FLY THE AIRCRAFT, AND RETURN FOR LANDING. IN THE AIR, THE DIRECTIONAL STABILITY ISSUES WORSENED, AND WHEN A TURN WAS ATTEMPTED, THE AIRCRAFT WOULD SKID, MAKING CONTROL DIFFICULT. DURING THE SHORT FLIGHT, MR. HYDE WAS UNABLE TO EFFECTIVELY CONTROL THE AIRCRAFT, WHICH THEN STRUCK THE TREES, DAMAGING THE AIRCRAFT AND INJURING THE PILOT.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB NYC03LA111](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC03LA111), May 20, 2003: Virginia Wright Model B (N1911K), Midland, VA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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