# NTSB MIA08CA011: Smith Miniplane DSA-1, N58MB, Alburgh, VT, November 2, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: November 2, 2007, 17:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: Alburgh, VT - Coordinates: 44.973233, -73.295664 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.9732&lon=-73.2957&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report December 20, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Portland Maine - NTSB case key (mKey): 67006 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA08CA011 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/67006/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA08CA011 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane during aerobatic maneuvers which resulted in a loss of control and in-flight collision with trees. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with object, descent - uncontrolled - object - tree(s) ## Analysis According to the pilot, he "left Franklin County State Airport (FSO) at 16:00. Flew west from FSO to practice aerobatic maneuvers. After fifteen (15) minutes of aerobatic practice [he] flew to Northern Lights airfield with [the] intention to land and observe first flight of recently assembled Steerman biplane from the air. Upon observing that the Steerman biplane was not out on the airfield ramp, [he] decided to fly west of [the] field for more aerobatic practice. After 10 minutes of aerobatic practice proper altitude diminished, and during inverted flight and while rolling to upright, [the] airplane "dished out", losing altitude and heading. As a result, [the] right wing struck tree tops and separated from [the] airplane. [The] airplane rolled and tumbled, which resulted in the left wing departing as well. [The] airplane then impacted the ground in an inverted position, bounced approximately seventy five (75) feet, impacted the ground also in an inverted position, and rolled against the tree line." ## Factual narrative According to the pilot, he "left Franklin County State Airport (FSO) at 16:00. Flew west from FSO to practice aerobatic maneuvers. After fifteen (15) minutes of aerobatic practice [he] flew to Northern Lights airfield with [the] intention to land and observe first flight of recently assembled biplane from the air. Upon observing that the biplane was not out on the airfield ramp, [he] decided to fly west of [the] field for more aerobatic practice. After 10 minutes of aerobatic practice proper altitude diminished, and during inverted flight and while rolling to upright, [the] airplane "dished out", losing altitude and heading. As a result, [the] right wing struck tree tops and separated from [the] airplane. [The] airplane rolled and tumbled, which resulted in the left wing departing as well. [The] airplane then impacted the ground in an inverted position, bounced approximately seventy five (75) feet, impacted the ground also in an inverted position, and rolled against the tree line." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N58MB](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N58MB-2013-04-23), registration cancelled 2013-04-23, S/N MB-1, built 1972 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Smith Miniplane DSA-1 - Registry model: [Smith Miniplane DSA-1](https://openairdocs.org/model/smith-miniplane-dsa-1) (registry code 83501W5) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-290 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-290-series) (registry code 41506, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: MB1 - Airframe hours: 103.5 - Engines: Lycoming AEIO-320-E1B 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Daniel F. Marcotte - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, June 1, 2006, 9.6 hours before - Departed: FSO, Franklin County, VT - Destination: VT46, Alburgh, VT - Airport: VT46, Northern Lights ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 33; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review July 1, 2006; seat: center; flight hours: 390 total, 29 in this make and model, 13 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 340° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 29.97 inHg - Observed at: KPLB ## 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 20071102829809A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20071102829809A), Nov 2, 2007: Amtr DSA1, Alburg, VT, Destroyed. (-23) After conducting a low-level (approximately 100 feet above ground level (AGL)) inverted pass down the centerline of the runway (runway 21) at Northern… 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.