Maxair DRIFTER N160HA

Summary

On 9 August 2009 at about 17:44 local time, a Maxair DRIFTER registered N160HA, operated by Edward Toth, was involved in an accident near Bumpass, Virginia, United States. 2 people were on board and one died, one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

9 August 2009 at 17:44

Classification

Accident

Location

Bumpass, Virginia, United States

Coordinates

38.0383, -77.7592

Aircraft

Maxair DRIFTER

Registration

N160HA

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Edward Toth

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Bumpass → Tappahannock

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA09LA452

1 person died.

The accelerated stall induced by the pilot in a steep turn to avoid obstacles during takeoff. Contributing to the accident were the pilot’s chosen takeoff path and the density altitude.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

Witnesses described 3 amateur-built float planes in the cove where their boats were anchored. Several described two floatplanes departing “towards the water,” while the accident airplane taxied out toward open water and then “turned around and took off towards land.” One witness described the application of full power, and all of the witnesses described a steep left bank almost immediately after takeoff before the airplane descended nose down into the water, and submerged. One witness was "alarmed" by how close to shore the airplane was before it lifted off the water. He said, "As the aircraft banked left along the shoreline to head out into open water, I saw the aircraft attempt to make what looked like a very sharp turn to avoid the approaching tree line." The witness took photographs of the airplane in sequence during the accident flight. They illustrate the initial take off run; lift off, low-level banking turn along the lake shore, and the impact with the water. The curve of the shoreline tightened along the airplane's route of flight, and the airplane impacted the water where the shore was perpendicular to the flight path, and lined with tall trees. Many of the witnesses stated that the airplane “appeared to stall” before striking the water. Examination of the wreckage revealed no evidence of any mechanical deficiencies. The calculated density altitude at takeoff was 2,701 feet.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.