Harding 1500-R-MINI-MAX N366RH

Summary

On 15 May 1995 at about 17:30 local time, a Harding 1500-R-MINI-MAX registered N366RH was involved in an accident near Braggs, Oklahoma, 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.

Date

15 May 1995 at 17:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Braggs, Oklahoma, United States

Coordinates

35.6607, -95.1907

Aircraft

Harding 1500-R-MINI-MAX

Registration

N366RH

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW95LA201

1 person died.

THE PILOT'S SELECTION OF AN UNSUITABLE LANDING/TAKEOFF AREA, AND HIS FAILURE TO OBTAIN OR MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED DURING TAKEOFF, WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT STALL.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE AIRPLANE WAS LANDED ON A GRASS AREA THAT NORMALLY WAS USED AS A HELIPAD. THE PILOT ABORTED THE FIRST TAKEOFF, WHICH WAS ATTEMPTED ON AN UPSLOPE TO THE NORTH. WITNESSES REPORTED THE AIRPLANE DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH SPEED TO TAKE OFF. THE PILOT THEN REVERSED THE DIRECTION AND INITIATED A TAKEOFF TO THE SOUTH IN A DOWNHILL DIRECTION. WITNESSES REPORTED THE PILOT 'FORCED' THE AIRPLANE INTO THE AIR. THE AIRPLANE WAS OBSERVED MANEUVERING TO CLEAR BUILDINGS AS IT CLIMBED TO 60' TO 75'. IT THEN ENTERED A LEFT DESCENDING TURN, HIT A POWERLINE WIRE ABOUT 20' ABOVE THE GROUND, AND CRASHED. ONE WITNESS REPORTED THAT THE AIRPLANE 'APPEARED TO BE LACKING POWER.' HOWEVER, AN EXAMINATION REVEALED THE PROPELLER BLADES WERE SHATTERED WITH INDICATIONS THAT THE ENGINE WAS PRODUCING POWER DURING IMPACT. FLIGHT CONTROL CONTINUITY WAS CONFIRMED DURING THE INVESTIGATION. THE TEMPERATURE WAS 83 DEGREES, AND THE DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS ABOUT 2200'. LIGHT WIND (ABOUT 3 KNOTS) WAS REPORTED IN THE AREA.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.