GREAT LAKES 2T-1(MENASCO SPECIAL near Salisbury, MD — 2024-05-26

Probable cause

The pilot’s exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack, resulting in an aerodynamic stall and loss of control.

NTSB narrative

The pilot and pilot-rated passenger departed the runway in the vintage biplane for a local flight. The pilot and passenger each had limited recollections of the accident flight, but the passenger remembered that, during the flight, the airplane felt “slow and mushy.” A witness on the ground recorded a video of the airplane’s takeoff and initial turn to the right, and strong engine noise could be heard throughout the video. The witness described that, shortly after he stopped recording, the airplane completed an approximate 180° turn back toward the airport. He then saw the airplane descend out of sight behind trees before he heard a “thud” and saw a puff of dust. The airplane came to rest in a grassy open field and exhibited damaged signatures consistent with a relatively low-energy, left-wing- and nose-low impact attitude. A postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Given the findings of the postaccident examination, including the impact signatures observed on the wreckage as well as the passenger’s description that the airplane felt “slow and mushy,” it is most likely that the pilot exceeded the airplane’s critical angle of attack while maneuvering, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall, loss of control, and subsequent impact with terrain.

Analysis

Primary failure mode

Loss of control

First missed decision gate

Pilot could have aborted the takeoff after feeling the airplane was slow and mushy.

NTSB coding

• Aerodynamic stall/spin · Maneuvering
• Maneuvering Stall

Evidence available

• Video
• Photos
• 9 docket documents

Docket documents9

• PILOT/OPERATOR AIRCRAFT ACCIDENT REPORT, NTSB FORM 6120.1form
• RELEASE OF AIRCRAFT WRECKAGE, NTSB FORM 6120.15form
• MEMORANDUM FOR RECORD A�� TELEPHONE INTERVIEW, PILOTinterview
• PASSENGER INTERVIEWinterview
• WITNESS STATEMENTinterview
• ENGINE EXAMINATION SUMMARYother
• INVESTIGATIVE PHOTOSphotos
• WITNESS VIDEO OF TAKEOFFvideo
• WRECKAGE EXAMINATION SUMMARYwreckage

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