# NTSB FTW88DRA09: Curtis Baby Great Lakes, N6915, Angleton, TX, April 19, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Final report
- Date: April 18, 1988, 19:00 local (Apr 19, 1988, 00:00 UTC)
- Place: Angleton, TX
- Coordinates: 29.159198, -95.419677 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.1592&lon=-95.4197&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report July 10, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 22478
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW88DRA09
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/22478/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW88DRA09

## Sequence of events

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

- Abrupt maneuver, takeoff - initial climb
  - maneuver - attempted, pilot in command (cause)
  - overconfidence in aircraft's ability, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb
  - airspeed(vs) - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall - uncontrolled, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

SHORTLY AFTER LIFTOFF, THE ACFT WAS OBSERVED TO ENTER A RT BANK AND THEN A LEFT BANK TO A COURSE PARALLEL TO THE T/O RWY.  IT WAS SUBSEQUENTLY OBSERVED TO ENTER A LEFT TURN WHICH STEEPENED AND THE ACFT NOSED OVER UNTIL GROUND IMPACT.  ORIGINAL TURN WAS EXECUTED AT ABOUT 150' AGL.  ACFT STRUCK THE GROUND IN A NOSE LOW, LEFT WING DOWN ATTITUDE.  NO EVIDENCE OF PRE-IMPACT FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND DURING THE INVESTIGATION.  NOR WAS THERE ANY EVIDENCE OF PLT INCAPACITATION FOUND DURING THE SUBSEQUENT AUTOPSY AND TOXICOLOGY STUDIES.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6915](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6915-1989-09-14), registration cancelled 1989-09-14, S/N WE101 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CURTIS BABY GREAT LAKES (BABY GREAT)
- Registry model: [Baby Great Lakes C65](https://openairdocs.org/model/baby-great-lakes-c65) (registry code 39120G0) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: WE 101
- Airframe hours: 175
- Engines: CONTINENTAL C-65 65 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Cecil Harris Roy
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: 100 hour, November 6, 1987, 2 hours before
- Departed: 7R9
- Destination: 93X5, LAKE JACKSON, TX
- Airport: 7R9, Bailes, runway 35, 3,855 × 100 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 68; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; toxicology performed; flight hours: 1,290 total, 16 in this make and model, 1,000 as pilot in command, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 310° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: GLS, 29 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 19880418047519A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880418047519A), Apr 18, 1988: Amtrof BABYLAKES, Angleton, TX, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Witness statements and vertical ground impact indicates the aircraft had stalled in a low altitude steep turn.

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.

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