MIA88FA213

NTSB accident investigation · Franklin Drifter XP-503 · Lake Wales, FL · July 4, 1988

Accident · FatalField investigationFinal report
Date
July 4, 1988, 19:50 local (23:50 UTC)
Place
Lake Wales, FL
Injuries
2 fatal
Damage
Destroyed
Phase of flight
Maneuvering
Aircraft
N65DFFranklin Drifter XP-503
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report September 19, 1989
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
19880704024769A
Case key
32027

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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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.

Airframe/component/system failure/malfunctionManeuvering
Stolen aircraft/unauthorized use
Low pass - performedPilot in commandFactor
Airspeed(vne) - exceededPilot in commandCause
Flight control,aileron - flutterCause
Flight control,aileron attachment - failure,totalCause
Design stress limits of aircraft - exceededPilot in commandCause
Loss of control - in flightManeuvering
In flight collision with terrain/waterDescent - uncontrolled

Analysis

The owner rprtd the plt flew the acft at a company picnic without authorization. Company psnl saw the experimental, amateur built acft takeoff from the company strip, then maneuver for a low pass over the area at about 150 to 200 ft AGL. Some estimated the pass was made with a speed in excess of 100 mph. The never exceed (vne) speed for the acft was 95 mph. As the acft apchd the area of the picnic, witnesses heard a buzzing or fluttering sound. As it continued overhead, witnesses noted the left aileron had become detached from the outboard end & had folded aft. Subsequently, the rgt aileron failed in a similar manner. The acft entered a climb & some witnesses noted a power reduction as if the plt was trying to slow the acft. However, the acft rolled & entered a dscnt which was described as a stall/spin condition. Rprtdly, the plt was aware of the acft's tendency to enctr aileron buzz or flutter when accelerated above 100 mph.

Aircraft

Registration
N65DF
Reported as
Franklin Drifter XP-503 (DRIFTER XP)
Category
Airplane, amateur-built
Serial number
DR 0365
Airframe hours
43
Engine
Rotax 532LC, 65 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Destroyed
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Operator
Maxair Aircraft Corp.
Registered owner
Dennis W. Franklin
Airworthiness certificate
Special, Experimental (Special)
Last inspection
Annual · April 7, 1988 · 43 hours before

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
42
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land, Multi-engine land, Single-engine sea
Medical
Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Seat
Front
Toxicology
Performed
Flight hours
2,900 total

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
70° at 10 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
79 °F, dew point 64 °F
Altimeter
30.00 inHg
Observed at
MCO, 30 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.