# Accident 20111022026719A: Berger Michael A WAIEX, Washington, GA, October 22, 2011

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 22, 2011, 13:30 local time
- Place: Washington, GA
- Airport: Washington-Wilkes County
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Unknown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 33.8161° N, 82.8206° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.8161&lon=-82.8206&mi=10
- Aircraft: N75654, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N75654-2017-10-26) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Berger Michael A WAIEX (registry code 05904M0, https://openairdocs.org/model/berger-michael-a-waiex) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Aerovee 2180 (registry code 01400, https://openairdocs.org/engine/aerovee-2180) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BERGER MICHAEL A WAIEX
- Reported engine: BERGER AERVEE
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Sport pilot
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA12FA018](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12FA018) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20111022026719A

## Narrative

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

ON OCTOBER 22, 2011 AIRCRAFT REGISTRATION NUMBER N75654 CRASH APPROXIMATELY 2.5 MILES NORTH OF WASHINGTON WILKES COUNTY AIRPORT RESULTING IN ONE FATAL DEATH. THE EVENT WAS REPORTED BY SEVERAL EYE WITNESSES REPORTED HEARING THE AIRCRAFT ENGINE SPUTTER AND FINALLY QUIT FOLLOWED BY A LOUD CRASH SOUND. EYE WITNESS OF A LOCAL HUNTING CAMP APPROXIMATELY ¼ MILE NORTH OF THE CRASH SITE AFTER THE LOUD CRASHING NOISE THEY WITNESSED THE TAIL STRUCTURE FALLING IN THE NEAR BY AREA.  ONE EYEWITNESS APPROXIMATELY ½ MILES FROM THE CRASH SITE REPORTED SEEING THE AIRCRAFT TUMBLE FROM THE SKY NOSE TO TAIL INTO THE TREE LINE WHERE THE WITNESS HEARD THE CRASH. PERSONS FROM THE HUNTING CAMP THAT WITNESSED THE ACCIDENT WERE THE FIRST ON SITE FIRST LOCATING THE TAIL STRUCTURE THEN SEARCH AND FOUND AIRCRAFT NOSE DOWN. THEY REPORTED NO GAS/FUEL SMELL FROM THE AIRCRAFT. FIRST RESPONDERS ALSO REPORTED NO FUEL SMELL FROM THE AIRCRAFT. FAA INSPECTOR ONSITE REMOVED THE FUEL CAP AND FOUND NO FUEL IN TANK NOR SMELLED ANY FUEL DISCHARGE AT THE ACCIDENT SCENE. INSPECTED FUEL LINE FROM THE FUEL TANK TO THE FIRE WALL ALL THOUGH LINE WERE DAMAGE NO EVIDENCE OF FUEL LEAKING FROM THE LINE. A REVIEW OF THE AIRCRAFT AND ENGINE LOG BOOKS SHOWED A CURRENT CONDITION INSPECTION WAS ACCOMPLISHED.ON NOVEMEBER 3, 2011 AN ENGINE TEAR DOWN WAS SCHEDULED NO EVIDENCE OF FUEL WAS PRESENT IN GAS TANK, FUEL LINES OR CARBUATOR. THE AIRCRAFT ENGINE COULD NOT BE OPERATED DURING TEAR DOWN INSPECTION DUE TO ENGINE DAMAGE.

## 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 ERA12FA018](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12FA018), Oct 22, 2011: Berger Michael A Waiex (N75654), Washington, GA, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The in-flight failure of the aircraft’s Y-tail attachment structure during maneuvering flight due to overload. Contributing to the accident was, the kit manufacturer’s use of 14 CFR Part 23, Appendix…

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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