# NTSB DFW05CA005: Murray DA5B, N1002W, Odessa, TX, October 13, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: October 13, 2004, 12:30 local (17:30 UTC) - Place: Odessa, TX - Coordinates: 31.920555, -102.386947 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.9206&lon=-102.3869&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report December 28, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Lubbock, Texas FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 60353 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DFW05CA005 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/60353/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW05CA005 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper recovery from a bounced landing. A contributing factor was the unsuitable terrain for landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - recovery from bounced landing - improper, pilot in command (cause) - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - Nose gear collapsed, landing - roll - Nose over - terrain condition - soft - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) ## Analysis While performing a high-speed taxi test on his newly completed airplane, the pilot unintentionally became airborne. Not wanting to drop the airplane back on the ground and getting close to the end of the runway the pilot elected to go full throttle and made a wide left turn to return to the runway. On the first approach the airplane was going too fast, so the pilot elected to go around the airfield a second time to perform a "normal" approach. Once past the runway threshold marker the pilot pulled the engine throttle back to idle and on touchdown the airplane bounced back into the air. The airplane then bounced a second time and departed the runway settling into the grass adjacent to the runway. During the rollout the nose gear dug into the soft terrain, and the airplane nosed-over, coming to rest in an inverted position. ## Factual narrative On October 13, 2004, approximately 1230 central daylight time, a Murray DA5B single-engine homebuilt airplane, N1002W, was substantially damaged following a loss of control during landing at the Odessa-Schlemeyer Field Airport (ODO) near Odessa, Texas. The private pilot, the sole occupant, sustained minor injuries. The airplane was registered and operated by the pilot. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The flight originated from the same airport approximately 5 minutes earlier. According to the 143-hour pilot, while performing a high-speed taxi test on runway 20 (a 5,703 foot by 75 foot runway), in a newly completed airplane, he unintentionally became airborne. Not wanting to drop the airplane back on the ground, and getting close to the end of the runway, he elected to go full throttle and made a wide left turn to return to the runway. He reported that on his first approach, the airplane was to going too fast, so he elected to go around the airfield a second time to perform a "normal" approach. The pilot further reported that once past the runway threshold marker he pulled the engine throttle back to idle, and on touchdown, the airplane bounced back into the air. The airplane then bounced a second time and departed the runway settling into the grass adjacent to the runway. During the rollout, the nose gear dug into the soft terrain, and the airplane nosed-over, coming to rest in an inverted position. A representative from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) responded to the accident site and reported that the fuselage was buckled and split just aft of the wing trailing edge. The aft fuselage and vertical stabilizer were also crushed downward. At 1253, the automated weather observing system at Odessa-Schlemeyer Field Airport (ODO) near Odessa, Texas, reported variable wind at 4 knots, 10 statute miles visibility, a clear sky, temperature 73 degrees Fahrenheit, dew point 55 degrees Fahrenheit, and a barometric pressure setting of 29.98 inches of Mercury. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1002W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1002W-2012-01-27), registration cancelled 2012-01-27, S/N 06, built 2004 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Murray DA5B - Registry model: [Murray Frank H DA5B](https://openairdocs.org/model/murray-frank-h-da5b) (registry code 05614KQ) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Volkswagen CONVERSION](https://openairdocs.org/engine/volkswagen-conversion) (registry code 63501, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 06 - Airframe hours: 6 - Engines: Volkswagen Conversion 76 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Frank H. Murray - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: ODO, Odessa, TX - Destination: ODO - Airport: ODO, Odessa-Schlemeyer Field Airpor, runway 20, 5,703 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 76; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review October 28, 2001; seat: single; flight hours: 143 total, 0 in this make and model, 0 in the last 90 days, 0 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 29.97 inHg - Observed at: ODO ## 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 20041013024069A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20041013024069A), Oct 13, 2004: Odessa, TX, Substantial damage. (-23) On October 13, 2004, Mr. Frank henry murray, private pilot #450408837, was performing high speed taxi tests on his DA-5 experimental aircraft on runway… ## Other investigations on N1002W (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 DFW08CA211](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW08CA211), Aug 21, 2008: Murray Frank H DA5B (N1002W), Odessa, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: Failure of the intake manifold when the flexible connectors disconnected from the carburetor after a turbulence encounter. Contributing to the accident was insuitable terrain for a forced landing. 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.