# NTSB CEN10LA001: Dusenberry Mark J 1905 Wright Flyer, N3635N, Dayton, OH, October 1, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 1, 2009, 09:30 local (13:30 UTC) - Place: Dayton, OH - Coordinates: 39.113887, -83.684997 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.1139&lon=-83.6850&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report May 28, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA-CIN-FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 74836 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN10LA001 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74836/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74836 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10LA001 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane during the flight, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Dusenberry Mark J 1905 WRIGHT FLYER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05619YO), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Wind: tailwind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Not specified; cases with it: [Dusenberry Mark J 1905 WRIGHT FLYER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md?model=05619YO), [All aircraft, 594 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Dusenberry Mark J 1905 WRIGHT FLYER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=05619YO), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241); cases with it: [Dusenberry Mark J 1905 WRIGHT FLYER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=05619YO), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) - [Enroute-cruise: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Dusenberry Mark J 1905 WRIGHT FLYER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=05619YO), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Dusenberry Mark J 1905 WRIGHT FLYER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05619YO), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The airplane, which was built by the pilot, was a replica of the Wright Brothers 1905 airplane. The purpose of the flight was to practice in preparation for the 104th Anniversary of Practical Flight celebration. The accident occurred on the second flight of the day. After takeoff, the airplane climbed to an altitude of 15 to 20 feet, then entered a shallow descending right bank. The wings of the airplane leveled and the nose pitched up. The nose of the airplane then dropped and the airplane impacted the terrain. The airplane received substantial damage to the fuselage, wings, and elevator. A 4-knot tailwind prevailed at the time of the accident. Postaccident inspection of the airplane failed to reveal any preimpact failures or malfunctions. ## Factual narrative On October 1, 2009, at 0930 eastern daylight time, an amateur built experimental Dusenberry 1905 Wright Flyer, N3635N, collided with the terrain following a loss of control shortly after taking off from the Huffman Prairie Flying Field at the Wright-Patterson AFB (FFO), Dayton, Ohio. The pilot received serious injuries. The airplane received substantial damage to the fuselage, wings, and elevator. The local flight was being operated under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated just prior to the accident. The accident occurred on the second flight of the day. A series of photos were submitted documenting both flights. On the accident flight, the photos show the airplane prior to takeoff up to and including the accident. After takeoff, the airplane climbed to an altitude of 15 to 20 feet. The airplane then entered a shallow descending right bank. The wings of the airplane leveled and the nose pitched up. The nose of the airplane then dropped and the airplane impacted the terrain. The airplane, which was built by the pilot, was a replica of the Wright Brothers 1905 airplane. The purpose of the flight was to practice in preparation for the 104th Anniversary of Practical Flight celebration. The pilot's logbook shows that he flew a total of 39 flights in the airplane. These flights totaled approximately 27 minutes of flight time. A 4 knot tailwind prevailed at the time of the accident. A post accident inspection of the airplane failed to reveal any pre-impact failures/malfunctions. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3635N](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3635N-2017-05-15), registration cancelled 2017-05-15, S/N 1, built 2003 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: DUSENBERRY MARK J 1905 WRIGHT FLYER - Registry model: [Dusenberry Mark J 1905 WRIGHT FLYER](https://openairdocs.org/model/dusenberry-mark-j-1905-wright-flyer) (registry code 05619YO) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1 - Engines: 18 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Dusenberry Mark J - Registered owner: Dusenberry Mark J - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, May 13, 2009 - Departed: FFO, Dayton, OH - Destination: FFO, Dayton, OH - Airport: FFO, Huffman Prairie Flying Field ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 49; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; seat: center; flight hours: 1 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 150° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 30.11 inHg - Observed at: FFO ## 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 20091001053919A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20091001053919A), Oct 1, 2009: Dusenberry 1905 WRIGHT, Wright Patterso, OH, Substantial damage. The aircraft was launched from a rail using a weight to catapult the aircraft. The pilot was flying a straight flight path. The aircraft pitched up and down as… ## Other investigations on N3635N (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 CHI08CA001](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI08CA001), Oct 5, 2007: Dusenberry 1905 Wright Flyer (N3635N), Dayton, OH, substantial damage. Probable cause: The altitude not maintained by the pilot for a turning maneuver. ## Docket (8 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 17, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74836. 1.2 MB in all. - Photo 1. N3635N Accident Flight (item 1, .PDF, 174 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40326798&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201.%20%20N3635N%20Accident%20Flight-Master.PDF - Photo 2. N3635N Accident Flight (item 2, .PDF, 174 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40326799&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202.%20%20N3635N%20Accident%20Flight-Master.PDF - Photo 3. N3635N Accident Flight (item 3, .PDF, 163 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40326800&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203.%20%20N3635N%20Accident%20Flight-Master.PDF - Photo 4. N3635N Accident Flight (item 4, .PDF, 160 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40326801&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%204.%20%20N3635N%20Accident%20Flight-Master.PDF - Photo 5. N3635N Accident Flight (item 5, .PDF, 152 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40326802&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%205.%20%20N3635N%20Accident%20Flight-Master.PDF - Photo 6. N3635N Accident Flight (item 6, .PDF, 137 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40326803&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%206.%20%20N3635N%20Accident%20Flight-Master.PDF - Photo 7. N3635N Accident Flight (item 7, .PDF, 130 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40326804&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%207.%20%20N3635N%20Accident%20Flight-Master.PDF - Photo 8. N3635N Accident Flight (item 8, .PDF, 130 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40326806&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%208.%20%20N3635N%20Accident%20Flight-Master.PDF 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.