Butzbach Smith Miniplane DSA1 accident near Escondido, CA
On September 16, 2003, a Butzbach Smith Miniplane DSA1 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Escondido, CA. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- September 16, 2003
- Place
- Escondido, CA
- Aircraft
- Butzbach Smith Miniplane DSA1 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 33.183°N, 117.000°W
- NTSB ID
- 20030918X01558
NTSB summary
On September 15, 2003, at 1831 Pacific daylight time, an experimental Butzbach Smith Miniplane DSA1 biplane, N40DB, collided with the ground while maneuvering near Lake Wohlford Airport (PVT), Escondido, California. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The private pilot sustained fatal injuries; the airplane was destroyed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local area personal flight, and no flight plan had been filed. The flight departed from Lake Wohlford about 1825. The pilot succumbed to his injuries the day following the accident. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector responded to the accident site. The debris field was approximately 150 square feet. The top wing of the biplane was sheared off and control continuity was unable to be established due to the damage sustained to the airplane. The Safety Board investigator-in-charge (IIC) interviewed a witness, who held a private pilot certificate and lived 1/4 mile behind the airport, via telephone. The witness stated that he was driving east on a road. The airplane was flying about 200 feet above ground level (agl), and fast, in an eastbound direction. It went out of view for about 10 seconds, and then the witness saw it traveling in a westbound direction. The airplane went over the airport "too fast and not at a normal landing attitude." Over the runway, at 50 feet agl, the airplane did a barrel roll. The roll was quick and to the left. He did not see the impact but immediately after the barrel roll, he observed a large cloud of dus
Probable cause
The pilot's low level aerobatic maneuver and his failure to maintain control of the airplane, which resulted in an uncontrolled descent and impact with terrain.
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Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
