# NTSB FTW85FA045: de Havilland DHC-1-22, N95HP, Abilene, TX, November 12, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: November 12, 1984, 14:52 local (20:52 UTC)
- Place: Abilene, TX
- Location: 32.4487° N, 99.7331° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Abilene, TX, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.4487&lon=-99.7331&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 21507
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW85FA045
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/21507/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW85FA045

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Abrupt maneuver, maneuvering
  - low pass - performed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - aerobatics - attempted, pilot in command (cause)
  - overconfidence in personal ability, pilot in command (cause)
  - proper altitude - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - overconfidence in aircraft's ability, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering
  - performance data - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - overconfidence in aircraft's ability, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - descent - excessive, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

ACFT CRASHED WHILE ATTEMPTING AN INTENTIONAL LOW LEVEL ACROBATIC MANEUVER (LEFT ROLL) OVER THE RWY. WITNESSES STATED THAT THE ACFT MADE A LOW PASS (100-200' AGL) DOWN THE RWY & ENTERED THE ROLL. AT THE INVERTED POSITION, THE NOSE FELL THRU, BUT THE MANEUVER WAS CONTINUED. THE ACFT DISHED OUT AT THE BOTTOM AND IMPACTED IN A WINGS LEVEL, 0 DEG PITCH ATTITUDE WITH HIGH VERTICAL VELOCITY ABOUT 200 YDS RIGHT OF THE RWY. A POST-CRASH FIRE ERUPTED AFTER THE ACFT CAME TO REST. THE PIC (CFI) WAS NOT CLEARED FOR LOW LEVEL ACROBATICS BY THE FAA.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N95HP (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: de Havilland DHC-1-22
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: CI-0190
- Engines: de Havilland GIPSY MAJOR 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Dimberly B. Pardue, doing business as Daughter Of Owner (Age 19)
- Registered owner: Howard E. Pardue
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, March 2, 1984
- Departed: 6F4, ABILENE, TX
- Airport: 6F4, Elmdale Airpark, runway 17, 2,950 × 25 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 61; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: center; toxicology performed; flight hours: 5,700 total, 5,200 as pilot in command, 100 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 190° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 43 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: ABI, 3 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 19841112061289A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19841112061289A), Nov 12, 1984: Dhav DHC1SER22, Abilene, TX, Destroyed. Impacted ground and burned after low altitude aileron roll was initiated over runway.

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.