Palen SOPWITH CAMEL N7157Q

Summary

On 9 May 2005 at about 22:45 local time, a Palen SOPWITH CAMEL registered N7157Q was involved in an accident near Rhinebeck, New York, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

9 May 2005 at 22:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Rhinebeck, New York, United States

Nearest airport

Old Rhinebeck (NY94)

Coordinates

41.9714, -73.8628

Aircraft

Palen SOPWITH CAMEL

Registration

N7157Q

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Rhinebeck → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC05CA080

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during the takeoff roll. A factor in the accident was the uneven runway, and the pilot's lack of total experience in make and model.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot went to the airport for the purpose of conducting an initial checkout in the single-seat replica of a Sopwith Camel. Assisted by a flight instructor who was "highly experienced" in the same make and model, the pilot completed the preflight, rehearsed various cockpit operations, and then boarded to practice taxiing. Afterwards, the pilot conducted a debriefing with the instructor, and then executed his first flight, which lasted approximately 25 minutes. After completing the flight, the pilot conducted another debriefing, and then attempted a second flight. During the takeoff roll, the airplane accelerated "normally" down the turf runway with the tailwheel in the up position for 4 to 6 seconds, and then nosed over, causing substantial damage to the top wing, and vertical stabilizer. Examination of the runway revealed the initial propeller ground scars were collocated with a set of ruts running perpendicular to the takeoff roll. At the time of the accident the pilot had approximately 1 hour in make and model.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.