# NTSB GAA18CA011: Dehavilland DHC 1, N323WG, Cedartown, GA, October 12, 2017 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: October 12, 2017, 13:30 local (17:30 UTC) - Place: Cedartown, GA - Coordinates: 34.018611, -85.146385 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.0186&lon=-85.1464&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 14, 2018 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 96181 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA18CA011 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/96181/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96181 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA011 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll. ## 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: [Dehavilland DHC-1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2801702), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Dehavilland DHC-1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2801702), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Terrain: sloped/uneven terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Dehavilland DHC-1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017/cases.md?model=2801702), [All aircraft, 270 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Dehavilland DHC-1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2801702), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Dehavilland DHC-1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2801702), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Dehavilland DHC-1, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2801702), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Fire/smoke (non-impact)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150); cases with it: [Dehavilland DHC-1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150/sequence.md?model=2801702), [All aircraft, 504 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot in the experimental, tailwheel-equipped airplane, when the tailwheel touched down during the landing roll, the right wing lifted, and the airplane veered to the left. The airplane exited the left side of the runway and continued about 100 ft down sloping terrain where it came to rest upright. The pilot and passenger exited the airplane and noticed smoke coming from the engine compartment. The pilot used a fire extinguisher from the airplane to spray the area of the smoke. However, the airplane continued smoking. The airplane was destroyed by a postcrash fire. The pilot reported that the wind was calm at the time of the accident. The METAR nearest to the accident airport reported the same. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative According to the pilot in the experimental, tailwheel-equipped airplane, when the tailwheel touched down during the landing roll, the right wing lifted, and the airplane veered to the left. The airplane exited the left side of the runway and continued about 100ft down sloping terrain where it came to rest upright. The pilot and passenger exited the airplane, and noticed smoke coming from the engine compartment. The pilot, using a fire extinguisher from the airplane, sprayed the area of the smoke. However, the airplane continued smoking. The airplane was destroyed by a post-crash fire The pilot reported that the wind was calm at the time of the accident. The METAR nearest the accident airport, reported the same. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N323WG](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N323WG-2020-08-26), registration cancelled 2020-08-26, S/N C1-0395, built 1951 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: DEHAVILLAND DHC 1 (UNDESIGNAT) - Registry model: [Dehavilland DHC-1](https://openairdocs.org/model/dehavilland-dhc-1) (registry code 2801702) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: C1-0395 - Year built: 1951 - Airframe hours: 11518.7 - Engines: Rols Royce Jipsy-Major 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Durashok LLC - Registered owner: Durashok LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special); Standard, Aerobatic - Last inspection: Annual, April 27, 2017 - Departed: SRB, Cookeville, TN - Destination: 4A4, Cedartown, GA - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: 4A4, Polk County Airport- Cornelius, runway 10, 4,006 × 76 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 55; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 157 total, 45 in this make and model, 23 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 68 °F - Altimeter: 30.10 inHg - Observed at: KPUJ, 12 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 20171012016169A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20171012016169A), Oct 12, 2017: Dehavilland DHC-1, Cedartown, GA, Destroyed. The aircraft was making a landing on runway 10 at the polk county airport (4A4) in Cedartown, GA. Upon initial toucheddown the aircraft ballooned back up in… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 2, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96181. 4.6 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 4.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40461485&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Memorandum for Record - Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 151 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40461486&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20-%20Pilot-Master.PDF - Photo (Courtesy of FAA) (item 3, .PDF, 1 photo, 348 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40461487&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.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.