ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 241389
Last updated: 8 October 2020
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| Date: | 13-SEP-2020 |
| Time: | c. 11:00 |
| Type: |  American Champion 8KCAB Decathlon |
| Owner/operator: | Private |
| Registration: | N83DH |
| C/n / msn: | 786-96 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 2 |
| Other fatalities: | 0 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | near Groton Municipal Airport (2E6), Groton, Brown County, SD -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Manoeuvring (airshow, firefighting, ag.ops.) |
| Nature: | Private |
| Departure airport: | Groton Municipal Airport (2E6), SD |
| Groton Municipal Airport (2E6), SD | |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
On September 13, 2020, about 1100 central daylight time (CDT), an American Champion 8KCAB, N83DH, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Groton, South Dakota. The commercial pilot and passenger sustained fatal injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 personal flight.
According to a witness, after takeoff, the airplane accelerated down the runway in ground effect before the nose pitched up to an estimated 45° angle. The airplane then rolled right and inverted and exited the roll maneuver in a nose-low attitude prior to impact with the ground. One witness estimated the roll was initiated between 75 and 100 ft above ground level. Two witnesses reported that the maneuver appeared intentional due to the rapid roll rate. Of the three witnesses interviewed, all stated that they did not know of any planned aerobatic maneuvers for the flight. The flight was part of a group of pilots attempting to raise money to help youth gain interest in aviation.
A family member stated that the pilot routinely performed low-level aerobatics in the accident airplane.
The airplane came to rest about 200 yards south of runway 15 at Groton Municipal Airport (2E6). The airplane impacted in an upright, nose low attitude before it came to rest inverted. Both wings, the fuselage, and tail all sustained substantial damage in the impact.
A detailed wreckage examination is pending.
Sources:
https://www.keloland.com/news/local-news/developing-reports-of-a-plane-crash-in-brown-county/
https://www.valleynewslive.com/2020/09/13/plane-with-2-on-board-crashes-near-groton/
https://www.argusleader.com/story/news/crime/2020/09/13/plane-2-board-crashes-near-groton/5786323002/
https://www.asias.faa.gov/apex/f?p=100:95:::NO::P95_EVENT_LCL_DATE,P95_LOC_CITY_NAME,P95_REGIST_NBR:13-SEP-20,GROTON,N83DH
http://www.grotonchamber.com/
https://s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/abpic-media-eu-production/pictures/full_size_0308/1463486-large.jpg (photo)
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 13-Sep-2020 20:34 | Geno | Added |
| 13-Sep-2020 20:43 | Geno | Updated [Source] |
| 13-Sep-2020 20:53 | Captain Adam | Updated [Aircraft type, Total fatalities, Narrative] |
| 14-Sep-2020 01:57 | RobertMB | Updated [Total fatalities, Nature, Source, Narrative] |
| 14-Sep-2020 15:30 | RobertMB | Updated [Aircraft type, Registration, Cn, Operator, Location, Source, Damage, Narrative] |
| 14-Sep-2020 19:10 | Captain Adam | Updated [Source, Narrative] |
| 14-Sep-2020 19:11 | Captain Adam | Updated [Source] |
| 15-Sep-2020 12:10 | Anon. | Updated [Narrative] |
| 22-Sep-2020 23:16 | Captain Adam | Updated [Phase, Departure airport, Destination airport, Narrative] |
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