Davis Airstrip Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Pittsville, Maryland 21850
Tuesady, July 19, 2005 10:45 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot had been building the accident airplane sporadically for approximately 11 years. The accident flight was the pilot's first flight in the airplane, and he had no record of prior flight experience in the same model as the accident airplane. Prior to departure, the pilot performed several high-speed taxis on a 2,750-foot-long, 105-foot-wide, turf runway. During the departure climb, about 200 feet agl, the airplane slowly rolled right and descended into a field about 2,000 feet beyond the end of the runway. Examination of the airplane confirmed flight control continuity, and did not reveal any pre-impact mechanical malfunctions with the airframe or engine.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A loss of control for undetermined reasons, which resulted in an uncontrolled descent into terrain.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/19/2005
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1045
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Pittsville
Event State MARYLAND
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 21850
Event Date Year 2005
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 382632N
Event Location Longitude 0752412W
Event Location Airport Davis Airstrip
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 6MD8
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 55
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1054 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 233
Weather Observation Facility ID SBY
Elevation of weather observation facility 52
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 8
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
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) 30
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 26
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 220
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.99
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
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) 19774
NTSB Notification Source EROC
NTSB Notification Date Jul 19 2005 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record May 30 2006 1:54PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\JOHB
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Baltimore, MD

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N707TR
NTSB Number NYC05LA121
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Ratliff
Aircraft Model Hummel Bird
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 1
Certified Max Gross Weight 530
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 --
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 1
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Thomas H Ratliff
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Salisbury
Aircraft Owner State MD
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode --
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 6MD8
Departure City Pittsville
Departure State MD
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1045
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 - initial climb
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Mar 19 2006 6:25PM
User who most recently changed record MUZD
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 36
Runway Length 2750
Runway Width 105
Sight Seeing flight --
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --