Bowers Flybaby 1A N8084D
17 June 1991 · Stoughton, Wisconsin, United States · Fatal
Summary
On 17 June 1991 at about 00:15 local time, a Bowers Flybaby 1A registered N8084D, operated by James H. Otterback, was involved in an accident near Stoughton, Wisconsin, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 00:15
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Stoughton, Wisconsin, United States
- Coordinates
- 42.9195, -89.2198
- Aircraft
- Bowers Flybaby 1A
- Registration
- N8084D
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- James H. Otterback
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Stoughton → Waunakee
- Aircraft damage
- Destroyed
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- CHI91DEP09
People
1 person died.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
THE INADEQUATE DESIGN BY THE MANUFACTURER TO PROVIDE FOR ADEQUATE PROTECTION FROM MOISTURE ACCUMULATION IN THE FORM OF DRAIN HOLES. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE THE DETERIORATION (WOOD ROT) OF THE WING SPAR ATTACH AND THE LACK OF INSPECTION ACCESS.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
WHILE PERFORMING AN AEROBATIC MANEUVER THE RIGHT WING FAILED AND DEPARTED THE AIRPLANE. THE AIRPLANE THEN DESCENDED INTO THE TERRAIN. SUBSEQUENT EXAMINATION REVEALED WOOD ROT AT THE FUSELAGE CARRY THRU SPAR ATTACHMENT WHERE THE FAILURE OCCURRED. EXAMINATION REVEALED SIMILAR ROT ON THE LEFT SIDE. THERE WERE NO DRAIN HOLES IN THE AREA OF THE SPAR ATTCHMENT WHERE MOISTURE COULD ACCUMULATE. IT WAS FURTHER DETERMINED THAT THE AREA WHERE THE DETERIORATION OCCURRED WAS NOT VISIBLE DURING NORMAL INSPECTION.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Bowers Flybaby 1 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 Oct 1982 | Bowers Flybaby 1A | Ephriam, Utah, United States | Harvey L. Miller | Fatal | 1 |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 Apr 1991 | Taylorcraft BC12-D | Evansville, Wisconsin, United States | Sugar River Flying Club | No injuries | - |
| 11 May 1991 | Cessna 172 | Neosho, Wisconsin, United States | Eugene Uhing | No injuries | - |
| 12 May 1991 | Bellanca 7GCBC | Hillsbord, Wisconsin, United States | Recreational Service Insurance | Minor injuries | - |
| 14 May 1991 | Piper PA-34-220T | Eau Claire, Wisconsin, United States | Rojo | No injuries | - |
| 8 Oct 1991 | Cessna 150M | Marion, Wisconsin, United States | James H. Jahnke | No injuries | - |
| 20 Oct 1991 | North American NAVION D | Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, United States | Rempert, Roger L. | No injuries | - |