DETRICK DONALD G DETRICK DA-2 — Oak Hill, FL

What happened

The student pilot purchased the experimental amateur-built, tailwheel-equipped airplane on the morning of the accident. Witnesses reported seeing the accident airplane taxi up and down the runway several times, followed by a takeoff attempt at full engine power. During the takeoff roll, the airplane never became airborne and instead veered left, departed the runway, and impacted a tree. Examination of the airplane revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical anomalies that would have prevented normal operation.

The seller of the airplane stated that he owned the airplane about 2 years and had accrued only 3 hours of flight time in it. He stated that the airplane’s flight controls were “very sensitive.” The seller reported that he asked the accident pilot if he had any flight hours in a tailwheel airplane, and the pilot reported that he had “a few.” The student pilot reported 70 total hours of flight experience on his most recent medical certificate application over 4 years before the accident. His pilot logbook was not located, and no determination could be made about any recent flight experience, tailwheel experience, or experience in the accident airplane make and model.

The circumstances of the accident are consistent with the pilot’s loss of control during takeoff. Although toxicological testing revealed an over-the-counter sedating antihistamine, it is not likely that his use of this medication contributed to the accident.

An editorial "what led to it / how to avoid it" analysis for this accident is generated separately and will appear here.