Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Defiance, Ohio 43512
Sunday, May 23, 2010 15:35 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot was performing low-level passes over a pond when the accident occurred. A video shot by a witness shows the airplane at or below treetop height during the maneuvers. The pilot reported that when he was climbing after the last pass the airplane developed a sink rate that increased until the airplane contacted the ground. The aircraft fuselage was bent during the impact and the passenger suffered a serious injury. The pilot reported no mechanical deficiencies with the airplane and witnesses reported hearing the engine until the airplane impacted the ground.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane while performing low-altitude maneuvers.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/23/2010
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1535
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Defiance
Event State OHIO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 43512
Event Date Year 2010
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 414231N
Event Location Longitude 0842229W
Event Location Airport --
Event Location Nearest Airport ID --
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 --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1535 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 205
Weather Observation Facility ID DFI
Elevation of weather observation facility 707
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 6
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
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) 28
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 17
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) 6
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.08
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
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 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 27117
NTSB Notification Source FAA-AGL-ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Jul 1 2010 1:18PM
User who most recently changed record bowl
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N211ES
NTSB Number CEN10LA266
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 HALL THOMAS K
Aircraft Model KITFOX SPEEDSTER
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 021
Certified Max Gross Weight 1200
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 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection May 7 2010 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 133
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Jere Wallack
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Livermore
Aircraft Owner State CO
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 80536
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Paul A. Drasutis
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Defiance
Operator State OH
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 43512
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) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code DFI
Departure City Defiance
Departure State OH
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1500
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code 0G6
Destination City Bryan
Destination State OH
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jun 29 2010 9:43AM
User who most recently changed record sulp
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --