Undetermined · NTSB NYC08LA310
Dufault Mark V Pitts S-1D — Ridgely, MD
| Date | September 9, 2008 |
| Location | Ridgely, MD |
| Aircraft | Dufault Mark V Pitts S-1D (amateur-built) |
| Purpose of flight | Personal |
| Conditions | Dusk · Instrument Meteorological Cond |
| Phase / occurrence | Prior to flight Preflight or dispatch event |
| Pilot age | 55 |
| Pilot total time | 750 hrs · Building experience |
| Time in type | Unknown |
| Fatalities | 1 |
Probable cause
NTSB findings
- Personnel issues-Task performance-Planning/preparation-Weather planning-Pilot - C
- Personnel issues-Action/decision-Info processing/decision-Decision making/judgment-Pilot - C
- Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Ceiling/visibility/precip-Fog-Decision related to condition - C
What happened
During an attempted landing in fog at an uncontrolled airport, when the airplane impacted terrain. The pilot did not hold a valid Federal Aviation Administration medical certificate and did not possess an instrument rating. The airplane was unregistered, and was not equipped for flight in instrument conditions. The pilot had departed the airport sometime after 1800 eastern daylight time on the day of the accident, and returned to the airport approximately one hour later just prior to sunset. Preceding the departure a small temperature dew point spread existed, and the wind velocity had decreased until the wind was calm. During the accident flight, the temperature and dew point spread converged, which resulted in the formation of fog. No record of the pilot having received a weather briefing prior to the flight was discovered.