# NTSB NYC00LA143: de Havilland DH-82A, N8872, Pittsfield, ME, May 26, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 26, 2000, 10:35 local (14:35 UTC) - Place: Pittsfield, ME - Location: 44.7685° N, 69.3744° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at PITTSFIELD MUNI (2B7), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.7685&lon=-69.3744&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 19, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 49291 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC00LA143 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/49291/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC00LA143 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper use of unsuitable terrain for landing. A factor in the accident was the soft terrain. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Nose over, landing - roll - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor) - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - improper use of, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The airplane touched down normally in a grass area parallel to a closed asphalt runway. During the rollout, the airplane proceeded over a 'soft spot,' nosed over, and came to rest inverted. ## Factual narrative On May 26, 2000, about 1035 Eastern Daylight Time, a de Havilland DH-82A "Tiger Moth," N8872, was substantially damaged while landing at the Pittsfield Municipal Airport, Pittsfield, Maine. The certificated private pilot and passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the personal local flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. According to the pilot, the airplane touched down normally in a grass area parallel to a closed asphalt runway. During the rollout, the airplane proceeded over a "soft spot," nosed over, and came to rest inverted. The winds reported at an airport located 23 miles to the east at 1053, were 260 degrees at 10 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8872](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8872-2018-03-07), registration cancelled 2018-03-07, S/N PG.625, built 1941 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: de Havilland DH-82A - Registry model: [Dehavilland TIGER MOTH DH 82A](https://openairdocs.org/model/dehavilland-tiger-moth-dh-82a) (registry code 2801002) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Dehav ENG GIPSY MAJOR](https://openairdocs.org/engine/dehav-eng-gipsy-major) (registry code 20004, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: PG-625 - Engines: de Havilland GYPSY MAJOR 132 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Kenneth Cianchette - Registered owner: Chucks Aircraft LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 20, 1999, 5 hours before - Departed: 2B7 - Airport: 2B7, Pittsfield Muni Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 76; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: rear; flight hours: 7,000 total, 20 in this make and model, 21 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 6,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: BGR, 23 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 20000526039449A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000526039449A), May 26, 2000: Dhavxx DH82AROBRTSN, Pittsfield, ME, Substantial damage. (4) On may 26, 2000, about 1035 eastern daylight time, a de havilland DH-82A "tiger moth," N8872, was substantially damaged while landing at the Pittsfield… ## Other investigations on N8872 (2) 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. - [NTSB ERA11CA420](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11CA420), Jul 23, 2011: Dehavilland Tiger Moth DH 82A (N8872), Rockland, ME, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain a proper approach path during landing. - [NTSB NYC79DNC40](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC79DNC40), Jul 28, 1979: Dehavilland DH82A (N8872), Pittsfield, ME, substantial damage 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.