# NTSB SEA85LA128: de Havilland DH 82A Tiger Moth, N99108, Orland, CA, June 5, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 5, 1985, 15:40 local (22:40 UTC)
- Place: Orland, CA
- Coordinates: 39.729774, -122.329086 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.7298&lon=-122.3291&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 40168
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA85LA128
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/40168/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA85LA128

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering
  - judgment - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - impairment(alcohol), pilot in command (cause)
  - proper altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - aircraft handling - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall/spin - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE PLT REPORTED THAT DURING A LOOP, THE ENG LOST POWER, THEN THE ACFT ENTERED AN INVERTED SPIN. HE SAID THAT HE HAD GOTTEN OUT OF THE INVERTED SPIN & WAS RECOVERING FROM A REGULAR SPIN WHEN THE ACFT STRUCK THE GROUND. ACCORDING TO A WITNESS, THE PLT ENTERED THE MANEUVER FROM A VERY LOW ALTITUDE & THE ENG STALLED AS THE ACFT WAS GOING STRAIGHT UP. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND. THE PLT WAS OBSERVED CONSUMING SEVERAL BEERS PRIOR TO THE ACDNT. A BLOOD TEST SHOWED THAT HE HAD AN ALCOHOL LEVEL OF 0.145%.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N99108](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N99108-2013-05-30), registration cancelled 2013-05-30, S/N T5378, built 1940 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: de Havilland DH 82A TIGER MOTH (DH 82A TIG)
- 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: T5378
- Engines: unknown UNK/NR reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Wayne S. Elliott
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Departed: 037
- Destination: 037

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 47; flight engineer, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: rear; toxicology performed; flight hours: 11,190 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 140° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: CIC, 16 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 19850605022629A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850605022629A), Jun 5, 1985: Dhav DH82, Orland, CA, Destroyed. Performed aerobatics including inverted spin. Recovered spun in. Witness saw pilot consume 3 or 4 beers prior flite

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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