Dawson Municipal Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Dawson, Georgia 31742
Monday, July 8, 1991 12:45 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE COMMERCIAL PILOT HAD REPORTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH DIRECTIONAL CONTROL IN THIS AIRPLANE DURING TAKEOFFS AND LANDINGS. HE OBTAINED SOME INSTRUCTION IN A DIFFERENT TAILWHEEL AIRPLANE (A CESSNA 140), BUT COULD NOT FIND SOMEONE TO CHECK HIM OUT IN THE ACCIDENT AIRPLANE. HE ELECTED TO FLY THE AIRPLANE WITHOUT A CHECKOUT. ON TAKEOFF ROLL, HE WAS SEEN WEAVING FROM ONE SIDE OF THE RUNWAY TO THE OTHER. HE ABRUPTLY ROTATED AFTER DEPARTING THE RUNWAY SURFACE TO THE SIDE. THE WINGS 'WOBBLED,' THEN THE AIRPLANE WAS OBSERVED TO BE STALLING. THE AIRPLANE ROLLED OFF TO THE RIGHT AND IMPACTED THE TERRAIN IN A NOSE-LOW ATTITUDE. THE PILOT HAD ONLY 4 HOURS TOTAL TIME IN THIS MAKE/MODEL. HE REPORTED NO MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE AIRPLANE.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S ABRUPT ROTATION AFTER FAILING TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING TAKEOFF ROLL, AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB, WHICH RESULTED IN A STALL. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS: THE PILOT'S LACK OF FAMILIARITY WITH THE AIRPLANE.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/8/1991
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1245
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City DAWSON
Event State GEORGIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 31742
Event Date Year 1991
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport DAWSON MUNICIPAL
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 16J
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 321
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1148 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 140
Weather Observation Facility ID ABY
Elevation of weather observation facility 197
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 18
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 15000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 1800
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 7
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 28
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 22
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 240
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 6
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 0
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 2
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1431
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 44299
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 10:30AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N28372
NTSB Number ATL91LA126
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name MOECKEL
Aircraft Model BAKENG DUCE
Aircraft Series Identifier BAKENG DUC
Aircraft Serial Number 329
Certified Max Gross Weight --
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 Nov 22 1990 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 3
Airframe Hours 31
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name COCHRAN, CRAIG
Aircraft Owner Street Address RT 3
Aircraft Owner City KENDALLVILLE
Aircraft Owner State IN
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 46755
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name COCHRAN, CRAIG
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address RT 3
Operator City KENDALLVILLE
Operator State IN
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 46755
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 Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1245
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code RMG
Destination City ROME
Destination State GA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 31
Runway Length 2790
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --