# NTSB DFW05LA012: Huber DR 107, N255HR, Fletcher, OK, October 28, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 28, 2004, 17:20 local (22:20 UTC) - Place: Fletcher, OK - Coordinates: 34.993057, -98.400001 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.9931&lon=-98.4000&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal - Status: Completed, report June 8, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 60454 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DFW05LA012 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/60454/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=60454 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW05LA012 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate planning/decision to conduct an aerobatic maneuver without sufficient altitude to recover. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - aerobatics - performed, pilot in command - recovery from bounced landing - not performed, pilot in command (cause) - altitude - inadequate, pilot in command - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The 1,438-hour private pilot lost control of the homebuilt airplane while performing aerobatics. The airplane was observed by a witness entering a spin and continued spinning down until it was in close proximity with the ground. The airplane then stopped spinning and the nose started to rise before impacting the terrain at a steep angle. The airplane then bounced, rolled inverted, and again impacted the terrain before bursting into flames. The airplane came to rest inverted in a grass field and was destroyed by post-impact fire. Control continuity was established to all flight controls and no mechanical malfunctions were found. ## Factual narrative On October 28, 2004, about 1720 central daylight time, a Huber DR 107 single-engine experimental airplane, N255HR, was destroyed following a loss of control while maneuvering near Fletcher, Oklahoma. The private pilot, sole occupant of the tailwheel equipped airplane, was fatallly injured. The airplane was registered to 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 local flight originated from a private airport near Fletcher, Oklahoma, approximately 15 minutes prior to the mishap. An eyewitness to the mishap reported observing the airplane performing acrobatic maneuvers at high altitude for about 10 minutes. He then observed the airplane enter a spin. He reported that the airplane continued to spin down until it was close to the ground. The airplane then stopped spinning and the nose started to rise before impacting the terrain at a steep angle. The airplane then bounced, rolled inverted, and again impacted the terrain before bursting into flames. The airplane came to rest in an inverted position, approximately 50 feet from the witness, in a grassy field. Another witness was looking out the driver side window of his truck when he first observed the airplane "come up even with his truck." He reported that the left wing impacted the ground first and the airplane skipped, rolled across the ground, and burst into flames. An inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) responded to the accident site and reported that the airplane was consumed by post-impact fire. According to the inspector, control continuity was established to all flight controls and no mechanical malfunctions were found. All major aircraft components were accounted for at the accident site. A ground scar identified the point of first impact and was located approximately 100 feet from the main wreckage. The pilot held a private pilot certificate for single-engine land airplanes. His last third class FAA medical certificate was issued on March 5, 2003. The pilot's personal logbooks were not available for review during the course of the accident investigation. The airplane, manufactured by the pilot, was an experimental DR 107, serial number 94-0255. The airplane consisted of a fabric covered, truss type, welded steel tube fuselage. The one-piece wing was constructed of wood. A four cylinder reciprocating Textron Lycoming engine and fixed pitch aluminum propeller was installed. The airplane's logbooks were not available for review during the course of the investigation; therefore, the airframe and engine time, and the date and type of the last inspection could not be determined. The FAA Toxicology and Accident Research Laboratory, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, performed toxicological testing of specimens of the pilot. The results of analysis were negative for volatiles. At 1655, the weather observation facility at Henry Post Army Airfield (FSI), near Fort Sill, Oklahoma, located 14 nautical miles southwest from the site of the accident, was reporting the wind from 180 degrees at 10 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, few clouds at 2,500 feet, scattered clouds at 6,000 feet, temperature 79 degrees Fahrenheit, dew point 66 degrees Fahrenheit, and barometric pressure setting of 29.91 inches of Mercury. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N255HR](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N255HR-2013-06-07), registration cancelled 2013-06-07, S/N 94-0255, built 2003 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Huber DR 107 - Registry model: [Huber Robert M DR 107](https://openairdocs.org/model/huber-robert-m-dr-107) (registry code 05615EU) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 94-0255 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Robert M Huber - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: Fletcher, OK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 59; injuries: fatal; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: single; toxicology performed; flight hours: 1,438 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 6,000 ft broken - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 29.90 inHg - Observed at: FSI, 14 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 20041028027229A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20041028027229A), Oct 28, 2004: Amtr DR107, Fletcher, OK, Destroyed, 1 fatal. (-23) Aircraft was observed performing acrobatic maneuvers at high altitude. The aircraft entered a dive and performed a descending aileron roll. After… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 28, 2005, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=60454. 108 KB in all. - Witness Statement (item 1, .PDF, 108 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40376467&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statement-Redacted.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.