- Date
- October 18, 2011, 17:30 local (21:30 UTC)
- Place
- Massey, MD
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N103STMoyes Bailey Dragonfly
- Defining event
- Approach-VFR pattern final: Aerodynamic stall/spin
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report March 8, 2012
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties
- FAA/FSDO
- FAA report
- 20111018024089A
- Case key
- 82108
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot did not maintain airspeed during approach to landing, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.
Findings · 2
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot stated that this was his first time flying the light sport airplane, and he was getting familiarized with the airplane’s flight and landing characteristics. He completed one uneventful landing. On the second landing, he did not maintain airspeed, and the airplane stalled just before touchdown. A witness reported that, as the airplane was approaching to land, its right wing dropped and impacted the ground. The airplane then spun toward the right before the nose section impacted the ground and sustained substantial damage. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions of the airplane or any of its systems prior to the accident.
Factual narrative
The pilot stated that this was his first time flying the light sport airplane and just completed the first landing. He was getting familiarized with the airplane’s flight and landing characteristics. On the second landing, he permitted the airspeed low and the airplane stalled just prior to touchdown. A witness observed the airplane as it was approaching to land, its right wing dropped, impacting the ground. It then spun towards the right before the nose section impacted the ground; incurring substantial damage. The pilot stated there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions of the airplane or any of its systems prior to the accident.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N103ST
- Reported as
- Moyes Bailey Dragonfly
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 16
- Engine
- Rotax 582UL DCDI, 65 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Ralph S. De Groodt
- Registered owner
- Williamson John F
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental light sport (Special)
- Departed
- MD1 · Massey, MD
- Destination
- MD1 · Massey, MD
- Airport
- MD1 · Massey Aerodrome, runway 09, 1,000 × 75 ft, grass/turf
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 76
- Injuries
- Serious
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- September 1, 2010
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 938 total · 1 in this make and model · 12 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 70 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.07 inHg
- Observed at
- MD!
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 19, 2012, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 1.0 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.