Pilot Debrief

DE HAVILLAND DH82 near Harvard, IL — 2025-09-27

Final reportCEN25LA397
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Date
2025-09-27
Location
Harvard, IL, USA
Airport
0C0
Aircraft
DE HAVILLAND DH82
Registration
UNREG
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0

Probable cause

The pilot’s failure of the pilot to maintain directional control during takeoff which resulted in a collision with cornstalks. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s partially obscured vision due to sun glare.

Contributing factors

Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s partially obscured vision due to sun glare.

NTSB narrative

The pilot was attempting to depart in the biplane to the west from a turf runway with uncultivated cornstalks off the left side of the runway. The pilot was seated in the rear tandem seat, and his forward vision was partially obscured by the tailwheel airplane’s high nose attitude and the setting sun to the west. On takeoff roll, the pilot did not maintain centerline and the airplane’s left wing contacted the corn on the left side of the runway. The pilot lost directional control, the airplane ground looped and came to rest in the corn field. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the upper and lower right wings. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 2 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents2

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