# NTSB NYC87DHM02: Fokker DR-1, N2009R, Rhinebeck, NY, May 2, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Final report
- Date: May 2, 1987, 14:30 local (18:30 UTC)
- Place: Rhinebeck, NY
- Coordinates: 41.920833, -73.899513 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.9208&lon=-73.8995&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report December 27, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 30446
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC87DHM02
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/30446/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC87DHM02

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb
  - compensation for wind conditions - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience in type of aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - aircraft handling - not understood, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE PLT WAS MAKING HIS FIRST TAKEOFF IN A FOKKER DR-1 TRI-PLANE. AFTER BECOMING AIRBORNE HE YAWED RIGHT, THEN LEFT, FOLLOWED BY THE ACFT NOSE FALLING BELOW THE HORIZON. THE ACFT WAS DESTROYED IN THE CRASH LANDING WHICH FOLLOWED. AFTER THE CRASH, THE PLT STATED THAT HE THOUGHT THE FIRST YAW WAS INDUCED BY WIND SHEAR. PLTS FAMILIAR WITH THIS TYPE ACFT STATED THAT YAW MUST BE CONTROLLED BY DIPPING THE WINGS RATHER THAN THE USUAL METHOD OF RUDDER ACTION. THE ACC PLT HAD NOT RECEIVED THIS INSTRUCTION. HE LATER STATED THAT IF HE HAD KNOWN THIS ACFT WAS PRONE TO RAPID LOSS OF AIRSPEED WITH RUDDER USE HE COULD HAVE AVOIDED THE ACCIDENT. NO CFI WAS INVOLVED IN THIS OPERATION.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2009R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2009R-2012-08-07), registration cancelled 2012-08-07, S/N 425, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: FOKKER DR-1
- Registry model: [Winter FOKKER TRIPLANE DR-1](https://openairdocs.org/model/winter-fokker-triplane-dr-1) (registry code 0566327) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Warner SS165 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/warner-ss165-series) (registry code 64504, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 425
- Engines: WARNER SUPER SCARAB 165 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: James H. Cole Palen
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, July 26, 1986, 45 hours before

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 38; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: expired; seat: front; flight hours: 5,270 total, 5,100 as pilot in command, 4 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 210° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 43 °F
- Observed at: POU, 21 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 19870502012099A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870502012099A), May 2, 1987: Amtrrf FOKKERDR1, Rhinebeck, NY, Destroyed. The aircraft stalled after takeoff and impacted wires. Pilot used improper rudder inputs to correct yaw.

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.

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