# NTSB ATL91LA126: Moeckel Bakeng Duce, N28372, Dawson, GA, July 8, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 8, 1991, 12:45 local (16:45 UTC)
- Place: Dawson, GA
- Location: 31.7433° N, 84.4193° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at DAWSON MUNI (16J), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.7433&lon=-84.4193&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious
- Status: Completed, report March 9, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 8430
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL91LA126
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/8430/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL91LA126

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S ABRUPT ROTATION AFTER FAILING TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING TAKEOFF ROLL, AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB, WHICH RESULTED IN A STALL.  A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS: THE PILOT'S LACK OF FAMILIARITY WITH THE AIRPLANE.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - rotation - abrupt, pilot in command
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall - encountered, pilot in command
  - lack of familiarity with aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE COMMERCIAL PILOT HAD REPORTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH DIRECTIONAL CONTROL IN THIS AIRPLANE DURING TAKEOFFS AND LANDINGS. HE OBTAINED SOME INSTRUCTION IN A DIFFERENT TAILWHEEL AIRPLANE (A CESSNA 140), BUT COULD NOT FIND SOMEONE TO CHECK HIM OUT IN THE ACCIDENT AIRPLANE.  HE ELECTED TO FLY THE AIRPLANE WITHOUT A CHECKOUT.  ON TAKEOFF ROLL, HE WAS SEEN WEAVING FROM ONE SIDE OF THE RUNWAY TO THE OTHER.  HE ABRUPTLY ROTATED AFTER DEPARTING THE RUNWAY SURFACE TO THE SIDE.  THE WINGS 'WOBBLED,' THEN THE AIRPLANE WAS OBSERVED TO BE STALLING.  THE AIRPLANE ROLLED OFF TO THE RIGHT AND IMPACTED THE TERRAIN IN A NOSE-LOW ATTITUDE.  THE PILOT HAD ONLY 4 HOURS TOTAL TIME IN THIS MAKE/MODEL.  HE REPORTED NO MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE AIRPLANE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N28372](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N28372-2013-04-15), registration cancelled 2013-04-15, S/N 329, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOECKEL BAKENG DUCE (BAKENG DUC)
- Registry model: [Moeckel BAKENG DUCE](https://openairdocs.org/model/moeckel-bakeng-duce) (registry code 0565052) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 329
- Airframe hours: 31
- Engines: LYCOMING O-290-D 130 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Cochran, Craig
- Registered owner: Cochran, Craig
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, November 22, 1990, 3 hours before
- Destination: RMG, ROME, GA
- Airport: 16J, Dawson Municipal, runway 31, 2,790 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 53; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: rear; flight hours: 1,989 total, 4 in this make and model, 1,798 as pilot in command, 113 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 240° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 15,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: ABY, 18 nm away

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19910708026489A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910708026489A), Jul 8, 1991: Amtrbg BAKENGDUCE, Dawson, GA, Substantial damage. Had trouble controlling tail dragger. Lost control,rotated early and stalled.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.