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May 5, 2008 · Dickenson Bathtub · N538

Broadhead, WI

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
May 5, 2008
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 fatality)
Location
Broadhead, WI
Aircraft
Dickenson Bathtub
Tail Number
N538
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
CHI08LA123

The airplane was destroyed when it impacted terrain following a loss of control on final approach to land. The flight was the pilot's first flight in the airplane. A witness reported seeing the airplane as it turned from a left base leg of the airport traffic pattern to final approach. The witness reported that the airplane's bank angle increased during the turn to correct for wind drift. It then stalled and entered a spin. Another witness also reported that he believed the accident was the result of a stall/spin. Neither witness reported hearing any engine malfunctions. No preimpact mechanical deficiencies were found with the airplane.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed during approach, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.

Full Narrative

HISTORY OF FLIGHT On May 5, 2008, about 1700 central daylight time, an amateur-built Dickenson Bathtub, N538, was destroyed when it impacted terrain following a loss of control on final approach to land on runway 03 at the Broadhead Airport, Broadhead, Wisconsin. The private pilot was fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the 14 CFR Part 91 flight. No flight plan was filed. The local flight originated at an unconfirmed time. A witness reported seeing the airplane during its approach to the airport. He stated that as the airplane made a left turn from the base leg of the approach to the final approach he noticed that the wind was drifting the airplane toward some houses. He stated that he saw the airplane's turn tighten, and then the airplane entered a stall/spin. It subsequently impacted the ground. He estimated that the airplane's altitude was about 300 feet above the ground when it entered the spin. He stated that he heard no engine malfunctions. He stated that the accident flight was the pilot's first flight in the airplane. Another witness who has been a certified flight instructor since 1982 reported that he believed the accident was the result of a stall/spin. He noted that the engine was running fine and seemed "ok" all the way to the ground. PERSONNEL INFORMATION The pilot, age 77, held a Federal Aviation Administration private pilot certificate with single engine land and sea ratings. He also held a third class medical certificate issued January 31, 2008. The medical certificate listed a limitation that the pilot have glasses available for near vision. FAA records indicate that the pilot had accumulated a total of 1,400 flight hours as of the date of his most recent medical examination. No further pilot flight records were obtained. AIRCRAFT INFORMATION The airplane was an amateur-built replica of a 1924 Dormoy Bathtub. It had a single strut braced fabric covered parasol mounted wing. The fuselage consisted of an open pilot enclosure with a single tubular structure running along the bottom of the fuselage and aft to the tail surfaces. Two additional tubular supports ran from the trailing edge of the wing to the top of the vertical tail. METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION At 1656, the weather conditions at the Monroe Municipal Airport, about 9 miles west of the accident site, were: Wind 260 degrees at 13 knots gusting to 16 knots; visibility 10 miles; scattered clouds at 10,000 feet; temperature 22 degrees Celsius; dew point -4 degrees Celsius; altimeter setting 19.98 inches of mercury. AIRPORT INFORMATION The Broadhead Airport was a privately owned airport and had 3 turf runways. The runway in use at the time of the accident was Runway 03 which was 1,480 feet long and 100 feet wide. WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION The airplane came to rest in a nose low position. The aft fuselage tubing structure was bent forward and upward in relation to the fuselage tub. The right wing and right landing gear were crushed rearward. The left wing remained intact. Examination of the airplane did not reveal any pre-existing deficiencies. MEDICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL INFORMATION An autopsy of the pilot was performed by the University of Wisconsin, School of Medicine. The report stated that the pilot perished as a result of the aircraft collision. A Final Forensic Toxicology Fatal Accident Report listed Naproxen detected in the pilot's urine.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time17:00 CDT
Nearest AirportBroadhead Airport (1nm)
Runway03
Runway Length1480 ft
Runway Width100 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftDickenson Bathtub
Tail NumberN538
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsHeath Avn · B4 · Reciprocating · 25
Seats1

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 fatality)
Fatal1
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 77 · Third Class · Fatal

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind260° @ 13 kt, gusting 16 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point25 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time21:56
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data