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Sept 2000 USA Oregon Vampire Crash Final Report

Posted by JohnH on Sat Jan 19, 2002 04:38:58 AM

Sorry if this repeats a previous post. This was just recently released last month. Used to watch this fly when it was owned by Ray Dieckman at Chino.


NTSB Identification: SEA00LA186 . The docket is stored in the (offline) NTSB Imaging System.

Accident occurred Saturday, September 23, 2000 at ONTARIO, OR
Aircraft:Dehavilland DH-100 MK.6, registration: N152RD
Injuries: 1 Fatal.
Most witnesses reported that while making a low, climbing pass during an aerial demonstration at an estimated altitude of 700 to 3,000 feet above ground level, the aircraft initiated a steep banked left turn, then abruptly rolled to the right (one witness reported that it rolled upside down at this point) and entered a spin (or a series of rolls), which continued until ground impact. The witnesses reported that they did not observe the aircraft on fire prior to the crash, that they did not see anything fall off the aircraft before impact, and that they heard the aircraft's engine during the accident sequence. No evidence of any pre-impact mechanical problems with the aircraft or engine was found during post-accident examinations of the aircraft wreckage. The Pilot's Notes for at least one variant of the type indicate that if the aircraft is stalled in a steep turn, the aircraft may 'flick' onto its back.

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows.

The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed during low-altitude maneuvering flight, resulting in an accelerated stall and spin. A factor was the pilot's intentional low-altitude maneuvering flight.

Full narrative available
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