Greene County Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Dayton, Ohio 45385
Sunday, September 28, 2008 15:30 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that when the tail wheel touched down during landing, he felt a "severe oscillation" which prevented him from maintaining directional control of the airplane. The airplane veered off the right side of the runway where it contacted a ditch collapsing the left main landing gear. The pilot reported he had always been able to control the airplane in the past with the tail wheel shimmy by using the brakes. Inspection of the airplane revealed the tail wheel clutch locking assembly cam was worn. In addition, the anti-shimmy friction spring was tightened down beyond limits.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Improper maintenance on the tail wheel anti-shimmy mechanism and the pilot's decision to continue operating the airplane with a known shimmy in the tail wheel.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/28/2008
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1530
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Dayton
Event State OHIO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 45385
Event Date Year 2008
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 394150N
Event Location Longitude 0835925W
Event Location Airport Greene County
Event Location Nearest Airport ID I19
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 1556 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID DAY
Elevation of weather observation facility 1009
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 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) 26
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 8
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 50
Variable Wind Indicator --
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.1
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 24562
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Oct 23 2008 3:39PM
User who most recently changed record dinc
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N9272C
NTSB Number CHI08CA295
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 None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name NORTH AMERICAN
Aircraft Model HARVARD MK
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 88-12054
Certified Max Gross Weight 6000
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
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 Jul 7 2007 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 55
Airframe Hours 9983
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name WARBIRD FLYERS LLC
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1507 PALMA PLZ
Aircraft Owner City AUSTIN
Aircraft Owner State TX
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 78703-3434
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name WARBIRD FLYERS LLC
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 1507 PALMA PLZ
Operator City AUSTIN
Operator State TX
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 78703-3434
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
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) Business
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code --
Departure City Dayton
Departure State OH
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1520
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code I19
Destination City Xenia
Destination State OH
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Oct 21 2008 9:52AM
User who most recently changed record sulp
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 25
Runway Length 4500
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --