Old Rhinebeck Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Rhinebeck, New York 12572
Monday, May 9, 2005 18:45 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot went to the airport for the purpose of conducting an initial checkout in the single-seat replica of a Sopwith Camel. Assisted by a flight instructor who was "highly experienced" in the same make and model, the pilot completed the preflight, rehearsed various cockpit operations, and then boarded to practice taxiing. Afterwards, the pilot conducted a debriefing with the instructor, and then executed his first flight, which lasted approximately 25 minutes. After completing the flight, the pilot conducted another debriefing, and then attempted a second flight. During the takeoff roll, the airplane accelerated "normally" down the turf runway with the tailwheel in the up position for 4 to 6 seconds, and then nosed over, causing substantial damage to the top wing, and vertical stabilizer. Examination of the runway revealed the initial propeller ground scars were collocated with a set of ruts running perpendicular to the takeoff roll. At the time of the accident the pilot had approximately 1 hour in make and model.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during the takeoff roll. A factor in the accident was the uneven runway, and the pilot's lack of total experience in make and model.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/9/2005
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1845
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Rhinebeck
Event State NEW YORK
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 12572
Event Date Year 2005
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 415817N
Event Location Longitude 0735146W
Event Location Airport OLD RHINEBECK
Event Location Nearest Airport ID NY94
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1853 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID POU
Elevation of weather observation facility 165
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Few
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 22
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 8
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator --
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.95
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 18143
NTSB Notification Source TEB FSDO
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Sep 13 2005 12:54PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\JOHB
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N7157Q
NTSB Number NYC05CA080
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
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 --
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Palen
Aircraft Model Sopwith Camel
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 1990
Certified Max Gross Weight 1458
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? Yes
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 1
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Aug 1 2004 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 1.3
Airframe Hours 100
ELT Installed --
ELT Activated --
ELT Aided Location of Event Site --
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name RhinebeckAerodrome Museum
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Rhinebeck
Aircraft Owner State NY
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 12572
Operator is an individual? No
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? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 NY94
Departure City RHINEBECK
Departure State NY
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1845
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City --
Destination State --
Destination Country --
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff - roll/run
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jun 9 2005 10:22AM
User who most recently changed record MUZD
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 2
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --