# NTSB BFO89DIG03: Smith Miniplane, N4655Y, Cumberland, MD, July 30, 1989

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Final report
- Date: July 30, 1989, 14:15 local (18:15 UTC)
- Place: Cumberland, MD
- Coordinates: 39.649845, -78.760284 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.6498&lon=-78.7603&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 9, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 11447
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO89DIG03
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/11447/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO89DIG03

## Probable cause

FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE DURING HIGH SPEED TAXI TESTS.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - on ground/water, taxi
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- On ground/water collision with object, taxi
  - object - tree(s)

## Analysis

THE PLT WAS MAKING A HIGH SPEED TAXI RUN, WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. HE REPORTED HAVING DIFFICULTY STEERING THE ACFT AS HE WAS TAXIING DOWN THE RWY. CONTROL OF THE ACFT WAS LOST AND IT VEERED OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RWY INTO A WOODED AREA. INSPECTION OF THE ACFT FAILED TO REVEAL ANY MECHANICAL FAILURE/MALFUNCTION OF THE LANDING GEAR AND/OR ACFT STEERING.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4655Y](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4655Y), registered now, S/N 1001 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SMITH MINIPLANE
- Registry model: [Koch/Myers SMITH MINPLANE DSA-1](https://openairdocs.org/model/koch-myers-smith-minplane-dsa-1) (registry code 8350248) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 1001
- Engines: CONTINENTAL A-65 65 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Edward W. Koch
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Airport: 1W3, Mexico Farms, runway 28, 2,180 × 250 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 64; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 17,060 total, 72 in this make and model, 30 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 4,000 ft broken
- Temperature: -0 °F, dew point -0 °F

## 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 19890730047279A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890730047279A), Jul 30, 1989: Amtrsm MINIPLANE*, Cumberland, MD, Substantial damage

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.

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