# NTSB MIA97LA202: DFL Holdings Tango, N772T, Keystone, FL, July 1, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 1, 1997, 00:00 local (04:00 UTC) - Place: Keystone, FL - Coordinates: 29.940279, -82.110092 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.9403&lon=-82.1101&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Unknown](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/990) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal - Status: Completed, report April 10, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 38305 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA97LA202 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38305/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA97LA202 ## Probable cause an in-flight loss of control for undetermined reasons. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, unknown - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis The pilot departed on a local flight and did not return. The wreckage was located the following day. Examination of the wreckage revealed the airplane collided with trees and terrain spinning to the left. Examination of the airframe, flight controls, engine assembly and accessories revealed no evidence of a precrash mechanical failure or malfunction. All components necessary for flight were present at the crash site. ## Factual narrative On July 1, 1997, at an undetermined time, an experimental DFL Holdings Inc., Model: Tango, N772T, operating as a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, crashed in the vicinity of Keystone, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The airplane was destroyed and the airline transport rated pilot was fatally injured. The flight originated from Keystone Airpark at about 1330 eastern daylight time. The airplane was reported as missing on July 1, 1997, and was located on July 2, 1997, in the northeast corner of restricted area 2903A. Examination of the crash site revealed the airplane collided with trees in a nose down attitude with little horizontal movement spinning to the left. The left wing was bent slightly up, was attached at the forward portion of the wing, and separated 10 to 12 inches on the trailing part of the wing. The right wing tip bottom was found two feet forward of the right wing. The fuel tanks were ruptured and browning of the vegetation was present. Torsional twisting, "s" bending and chordwise scarring was present on the propeller blades. Tree branches found in the vicinity of the crash site exhibited 45-degree "v" cuts Examination of the airframe, flight controls, engine assembly and accessories revealed no evidence of a precrash mechanical failure or malfunction. All components necessary for flight were present at the crash site. For additional information see FAA inspector's statement Personnel who had known the pilot since college stated, he had the experience and talent to fly the tango airplane, but at times had shown less than good judgment performing maneuvers at low altitudes and buzzing at tree top level before and after joining the military. He was informed about the characteristics of the tango airplane, was instructed not to perform aerobatics, power on stalls, or spins, and to consider it as a low g aircraft. After initially flying the airplane the pilot informed them that the airplane did a great "pull close" maneuver. Postmortem examination of the pilot was conducted on July 3, 1997, by Dr. Margarita Arruza, Associate Medical Examiner, Jacksonville, Florida. The cause of death was multiple injuries. Postmortem toxicology studies of specimens from the pilot were performed by the Forensic Toxicology Research Section, Federal Aviation Administration, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. These studies were negative for basic, acidic, and neutral drugs. Ethanol 21.000 mg/dl was detected in the blood, 30.00 mg/dl ethanol was detected in the muscle fluid, 1.00 mg/dl acetaldehyde was detected in the muscle fluid, 16.000 acetaldehyde was detected in the blood, and 5.000 mg/dl n-propanol was detected in the blood. The wreckage was released to MSG Ronald Watson, Provost Marshals Office, Camp Blanding, Florida, on July 11, 1997. The pilot log books were released to the deceased pilot's father, Dr. Richard K. Ames, on August 19, 1997. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N772T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N772T-2015-05-15), registration cancelled 2015-05-15, S/N T001, built 1996 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: DFL Holdings Inc. TANGO - Registry model: [D F L Holding TANGO](https://openairdocs.org/model/d-f-l-holding-tango) (registry code 056034W) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 SER A&C](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-ser-a-c) (registry code 41511, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 001 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A1A reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Dfl Holding Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: 42J - Destination: GNV, GAINESVILLE, FL ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 35; airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 4,218 total, 3 in this make and model, 2,335 as pilot in command, 32 in the last 90 days, 22 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Not reported - Wind: 350° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken - Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 73 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: GNV ## 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 19970701016639A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970701016639A), Jul 1, 1997: Keystone, FL, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Spun into ground. Found next day. Pilot history aerobatics and buzzing. Tango low g no spin type. Alcohol a factor. (-23) no narrative. 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.