- Date
- May 2, 1992, 20:15 local (May 3, 1992, 01:15 UTC)
- Place
- Castroville, TX
- Injuries
- 1 serious
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N68DSShewmaker BD5
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report July 26, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19920502019489A
- Case key
- 18488
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's failure to maintain aircraft control during the flare. Factors were the engagement of the propeller feathering system and the pilot's total lack of experience in type aircraft and the slipped propeller pitch change system.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot was attempting a high speed taxi test when the airplane became airborne. A normal climb was made to approximately 1,000 feet AGL. The pilot made several left turns while in level flight and proceeded back toward the airport. During the approach, the propeller system's variable control mechanism slipped which allowed the propeller to go to the full feather position. The airplane's airspeed was between 160 to 180 mph when this occurred, according to the pilot. The airspeed then dropped to approximately 100 mph and the pilot initiated a forced landing to an open field. During the flare prior to touchdown, the pilot added power and the airplane yawed. The left wing tip struck the ground and the pilot lost control of the airplane which then impacted the terrain. The pilot stated the propeller control system probably vibrated loose during the flight. This system is controlled by the pilot from the cockpit with a vernier knob. The pilot built the airplane and had not flown it before the accident.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N68DS
- Reported as
- Shewmaker BD5
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- 0014
- Airframe hours
- 1
- Engine
- Honda EB3, 105 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Part 91
- Operator
- Shewmaker, Darryl D.
- Registered owner
- Shewmaker, Darryl D.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection
- Unknown · January 2, 2000
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
- 44
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Airline transport, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Center
- Flight hours
- 17,650 total · 1 in this make and model · 17,350 as pilot in command · 145 in the last 90 days · 45 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 130° at 9 knots
- Visibility
- 8 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 4,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 81 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- SAT, 20 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.