# NTSB ERA22LA294: Bucker BU-133, N1940H, Hartford, KY, June 24, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: June 24, 2022, 14:25 local (19:25 UTC) - Place: Hartford, KY · Adjacent to runway - Coordinates: 37.465688, -86.845786 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.4657&lon=-86.8458&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 105387 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA22LA294 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/105387/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105387 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA294 ## Probable cause The pilot’s exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack during the initial climb, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall during an attempted return to the runway. ## 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: [Bucker BU-133, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=1590312), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Bucker BU-133, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=1590312), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: angle of attack](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Bucker BU-133, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md?model=1590312), [All aircraft, 990 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Bucker BU-133, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=1590312), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) ## Analysis Witnesses reported that, during takeoff, the airplane became airborne about 1,000 ft down the 5,000-ft-long runway and immediately pitched up to a nose-high attitude with little increase in altitude. The witnesses also reported that the engine ran smoothly during the entire event. As the airplane passed the departure end of the runway, it made a slight right turn, followed by a sharp turn to the left back toward the runway. During the left turn, the nose dropped, and the airplane impacted the ground past the end of the runway in a left-wing-low attitude. Examination of the airplane revealed no evidence of a preexisting mechanical malfunction or failure that would have precluded normal operation. Given the witness statements and the lack of mechanical anomalies, it is likely that the pilot exceeded the airplane’s critical angle of attack while attempting to return to the airport during the initial climb, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall, loss of control, and impact with terrain. ## Factual narrative On June 24, 2022, about 1425 central daylight time, a Bücker BU-133, N1940H, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Hartford, Kentucky. The private pilot was seriously injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Witnesses reported that the pilot refueled the airplane and started the engine with the assistance of a mechanic, who hand-propped the engine. After engine start, the pilot taxied for departure. The airplane became airborne about 1,000 ft down the 5,000-ft-long runway and immediately pitched up into a nose-high attitude with little increase in altitude. The witnesses also reported that the engine ran smoothly during the entire event. As the airplane passed the departure end of the runway, it made a slight right turn, followed by a sharp turn to the left, back toward the runway. The airplane stalled, the nose dropped, and the airplane impacted the ground. First responders assisted the pilot out of the wreckage and he was transported to a local hospital for treatment. An inspector with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) responded to the accident site and examined the wreckage. The airplane crashed in an open, grassy area about 400 ft past the departure end of the runway. The left wing and forward fuselage sustained substantial damage. There was no fire. Continuity was established from all flight control surfaces to the cockpit controls. The elevator trim was found in the neutral position. The FAA reported that, due to his injuries, the pilot had no recollection of the event. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1940H](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1940H-2024-09-28), registration cancelled 2024-09-28, S/N 37, built 1940 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Bucker BU-133 - Registry model: [Bucker BU-133](https://openairdocs.org/model/bucker-bu-133) (registry code 1590312) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 37 - Year built: 1940 - Airframe hours: 1475 - Engines: Seimens SH14A4 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, May 25, 2022 - Airport: JDQ, Ohio County, runway 3, 5,003 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 65; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: basicmed, without waivers/limitations; last flight review November 3, 2021; seat: center; flight hours: 2,925 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 59 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: OWB, 23 nm away - METAR: KOWB 242056Z VRB05KT 10SM CLR 32/15 A3000 RMK AO2 SLP154 T03170150 56010 ## 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 20220624011039A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220624011039A), Jun 24, 2022: Bucker BU-133, Hartford, KY, Substantial damage. While executing a left turn/bank, the aircraft went into a stall and impacted the ground at approximately 100 yards off the end of runway 21. ## Other investigations on N1940H (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 FTW76DRG85](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW76DRG85), Aug 22, 1976: Bucker BU-133 (N1940H), Cibolo, TX, substantial damage ## Docket (7 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 15, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105387. 33.8 MB in all. - NTSB memorandum for record - FAA correspondence and wreckage review (item 1, PDF, 1 page, 132 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14926619&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=1%20Memorandum%20for%20Record%20508%20FAA%20Correspondence%20and%20Wreckage%20Review_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Witness statements (item 2, PDF, 7 pages, 9.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14550636&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=2%20Witness%20Statements_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Excerpts - pilot logbook (item 3, PDF, 8 pages, 457 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14558995&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=3%20JTC%20Logbook%20-%20last%2012%20months_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Excerpts - aircraft logbook (item 4, PDF, 5 pages, 10.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14551954&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=4%20N1940H%20Airframe%20Logbook%20Excerpts_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Excerpts - engine logbook (item 5, PDF, 6 pages, 8.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14551849&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=5%20N1940H%20Engine%20Logbook%20Excerpts_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Aircraft weight and balance information (item 6, PDF, 1 page, 2.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14551805&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6%20N1940H%20W%26B-Rel.pdf - Photo array (item 7, PDF, 3 pages, 2.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14550646&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=7%20Photo%20Array-Rel.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.