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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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NTSB Report

June 12, 1983 · Dial-Thorp T-18 · N11BD

Morristown, NJ

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
June 12, 1983
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 fatality)
Location
Morristown, NJ
Aircraft
Dial-Thorp T-18
Tail Number
N11BD
Operator
James Mario Dyer
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
NYC83FHM02

THE PLT HAD BEEN ACTIVE IN ORGANIZING AN AIR SHOW, BUT WAS NOT CONSIDERED A PARTICIPANT. HOWEVER, HIS HOME BUILT ACFT WAS ON STATIC DISPLAY. ON THE 2ND DAY OF THE SHOW, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE EVENT GAVE HIM PERMISSION TO DO A FLY-BY. SUBSEQUENTLY, HE INITIATED A PASS DOWN RWY 23 AT AN ALTITUDE OF APRX 150 FT AGL. DURING THE PASS, THE ACFT BEGAN TO PORPOISE, MADE 2 OSCILLATIONS ABOUT THE LATERAL AXIS, THEN BEGAN TO DISINTEGRATE. WHILE STILL IN FLT, THE WINGS, FLAPS, VERTICAL STABILIZER, RUDDER, RIGHT HORIZONTAL STABILIZER & PARTS OF THE CANOPY SEPARATED. THE FUSELAGE THEN ROLLED SLIGHTLY TO THE RIGHT, CRASHED & BURNED. THE ACFT WAS NOT CERTIFICATED FOR AEROBATIC FLT. THE MANUFACTURER OF THE KIT (FROM WHICH THE ACFT WAS BUILT) RECOMMENDED THE CRUISE SPEED (VNO) BE 172 MPH & THE NEVER EXCEED SPEED (VNE) BE 210 MPH. THE ACFT'S AIRSPEED INDICATOR WAS CALIBRATED IN KTS & WAS MARKED WITH THE VNO & VNE AT 170 & 213 KTS (196 & 244 MPH), RESPECTIVELY. PSEUDOEPHEDRINE & CHLORPHENIRAMINE FOUND IN PLT'S URINE.

Full Narrative

THE PLT HAD BEEN ACTIVE IN ORGANIZING AN AIR SHOW, BUT WAS NOT CONSIDERED A PARTICIPANT. HOWEVER, HIS HOME BUILT ACFT WAS ON STATIC DISPLAY. ON THE 2ND DAY OF THE SHOW, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE EVENT GAVE HIM PERMISSION TO DO A FLY-BY. SUBSEQUENTLY, HE INITIATED A PASS DOWN RWY 23 AT AN ALTITUDE OF APRX 150 FT AGL. DURING THE PASS, THE ACFT BEGAN TO PORPOISE, MADE 2 OSCILLATIONS ABOUT THE LATERAL AXIS, THEN BEGAN TO DISINTEGRATE. WHILE STILL IN FLT, THE WINGS, FLAPS, VERTICAL STABILIZER, RUDDER, RIGHT HORIZONTAL STABILIZER & PARTS OF THE CANOPY SEPARATED. THE FUSELAGE THEN ROLLED SLIGHTLY TO THE RIGHT, CRASHED & BURNED. THE ACFT WAS NOT CERTIFICATED FOR AEROBATIC FLT. THE MANUFACTURER OF THE KIT (FROM WHICH THE ACFT WAS BUILT) RECOMMENDED THE CRUISE SPEED (VNO) BE 172 MPH & THE NEVER EXCEED SPEED (VNE) BE 210 MPH. THE ACFT'S AIRSPEED INDICATOR WAS CALIBRATED IN KTS & WAS MARKED WITH THE VNO & VNE AT 170 & 213 KTS (196 & 244 MPH), RESPECTIVELY. PSEUDOEPHEDRINE & CHLORPHENIRAMINE FOUND IN PLT'S URINE.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time12:30 EDT
Nearest AirportMorristown (0nm N)
Runway23
Runway Length6000 ft
Runway Width150 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireGrd
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftDial-Thorp T-18
Tail NumberN11BD
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorJames Mario Dyer
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · IO-320-B1A · Reciprocating · 160
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 fatality)
Fatal1
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 25 · First Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind310° @ 5 kt
Visibility15 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point63 F
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data