# NTSB CEN11LA466: Dehavilland DHC-1, N22DH, Benton, KS, July 9, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 9, 2011, 11:05 local (16:05 UTC) - Place: Benton, KS - Coordinates: 37.771667, -97.10778 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.7717&lon=-97.1078&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report February 16, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 81047 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN11LA466 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/81047/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81047 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11LA466 ## Probable cause The pilot did not maintain sufficient airspeed while maneuvering at low altitude, which resulted in an inadvertent stall and spin. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Dehavilland DHC-1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=2801702), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained; cases with it: [Dehavilland DHC-1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=2801702), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) (defining event); cases with it: [Dehavilland DHC-1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=2801702), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot stated he was practicing touch-and-go landings and takeoffs when he made a tight 360-degree turn in the pattern for spacing. During the turn, he allowed the airplane to get slow. The airplane stalled and entered a spin with insufficient altitude to recover. The airplane collided with terrain and came to rest against a shed. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical problems with the airplane or the engine prior to the accident. ## Factual narrative On July 9, 2011, at 1105 central daylight time, N22DH, a Dehavilland DHC-1, sustained substantial damage after it lost control on final approach to runway 17 at Lloyd Stearman Airport (1K1), Benton, Kansas. The private pilot/registered owner sustained serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Two witnesses, who were flying a helicopter in the traffic pattern, saw the airplane enter a sudden, 360 degree turn to the right over the end of the runway. According to one witness, as the airplane entered the turn, the wings appeared to buffet but the pilot recovered on a north heading about 200 feet above the ground. As the pilot attempted to turn back to the runway, the airplane stalled and spun to the right. It collided with terrain about a half mile north west of the runway. According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, he along with two other inspectors, performed a postaccident examination of the airplane and interviewed the pilot. He said the pilot had recently purchased the airplane and was practicing touch and go landings when the accident occurred. The pilot said that while on final approach, he made a right 360 degree turn for spacing and subsequently got slow, stalled, and entered a spin. The pilot was unable to recover from the spin before the airplane struck the ground. The airplane came to rest against a residential shed resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage, both wings, and the tail section. There was no postimpact fire. The pilot reported there were no mechanical problems with the airplane or engine prior to the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N22DH](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N22DH-2014-10-17), registration cancelled 2014-10-17, S/N C1-0886, built 1953 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: DEHAVILLAND DHC-1 - Registry model: [Dehavilland DHC-1](https://openairdocs.org/model/dehavilland-dhc-1) (registry code 2801702) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Dehav ENG GIPSY MAJOR](https://openairdocs.org/engine/dehav-eng-gipsy-major) (registry code 20004, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: C1-0886 - Engines: DEHAV ENG GIPSY MAJOR 140 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Frazier Michael E. - Registered owner: Frazier Michael E. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: 1K1, Benton, KS - Destination: 1K1, Benton, KS - Airport: 1K1, Lloyd Stearman ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 55; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: front; flight hours: 850 total, 26 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 150° at 14 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 29.82 inHg - Observed at: AAO, 5 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 20110709016089A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110709016089A), Jul 9, 2011: Dehavilland DHC-1, Benton, KS, Substantial damage. The pilot [privacy data omitted] was doing some touch and go's at Benton field, Kansas (1 K1). Eye witnesses, who were flying a helicopter in the Benton… ## Other investigations on N22DH (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 FTW84LA071](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW84LA071), Nov 20, 1983: de Havilland DHC-1 (N22DH), Orange, TX, substantial damage ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 29, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81047. 205 KB in all. - Record of Conversation-FAA (item 1, .PDF, 72 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40360031&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation-FAA-Master.PDF - Witness Statements (item 2, .PDF, 66 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40360033&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statements-Redacted.PDF - NTSB Statement Regarding 6120.1 form (item 3, .PDF, 67 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40360040&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=NTSB%20Statement%20Regarding%206120.1%20form-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.