Haas Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Bainbridge, Ohio 45612
Monday, May 26, 1997 11:44 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

Witnesses reported that they observed the airplane make a normal takeoff. According to them, after starting to climb, the airplane entered a descent and crashed. They reported seeing the airplane in a right-wing low position before it impacted the ground in a nose down attitude. Examination of the airplane and the engine did not reveal any abnormalities. The pilot's last log book entry was dated 11/22/95. On 11/29/95, he had coronary artery bypass surgery. On 5/15/97, the FAA Aeromedical Certification Division denied the pilot a medical certificate 'due to objective evidence of myocardial ischemia by radionuclide scintigraphy.' An autopsy report of the pilot noted 'minimal cardiac tissue' for examination. Toxicology testing detected unspecified levels of metoprolol (a medication which reduces the heart rate response to stress) in the pilot's blood and liver fluid.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

failure of the pilot to maintain control of the airplane during the initial climb after takeoff. The pilot's physiological conditions was a possible factor.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/26/1997
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1144
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City BAINBRIDGE
Event State OHIO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 45612
Event Date Year 1997
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport HAAS
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 9I5
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 750
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1151 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 30
Weather Observation Facility ID CMH
Elevation of weather observation facility 815
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 60
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 25000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 17
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 7
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 40
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 11
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 1
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1404
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date May 26 1997 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1225
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 12:17PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N61CD
NTSB Number IAD97LA076
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name DRESBACH
Aircraft Model RV-4
Aircraft Series Identifier RV-4
Aircraft Serial Number 1652
Certified Max Gross Weight 1500
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? Yes
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Apr 4 1996 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name IRWIN W DRESBACH
Aircraft Owner Street Address 2 FOURTH STREET PO BOX 222
Aircraft Owner City KINGSTON
Aircraft Owner State OH
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 45644
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code RZT
Departure City CHILLICOTHE
Departure State OH
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 13
Runway Length 1920
Runway Width 90
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --