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CEN24LA154

2024-04-10 · Council Bluffs, Iowa, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport CBF

Current FAA registration · N675LF

Make / Model
DEHAVILLAND TIGER MOTH DH 82A
Year of manufacture
1944 · 80 years old at event
Engine
DEHAV ENG GIPSY MAJOR (140 hp)
Seats / Engines
2 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
19730321
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S A8EF4B

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the takeoff with a direct gusting crosswind.

Factual narrative

The pilot reported that, during the takeoff roll on runway 18, the airplane veered left. The pilot attempted to correct with opposite rudder and aileron; however, the airplane exited the left side of the runway. During the excursion, the airplane rolled over a berm, and the left wing struck the ground. The airplane subsequently nosed over and came to rest inverted, which resulted in substantial damage to the right upper wing, left lower wing, vertical stabilizer, and rudder. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. At the time of the accident, the pilot was departing from runway 18 with wind from 270° at 12 knots, gusting to 20kts. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

  • — Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Directional control-Not attained/maintained
  • — Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot
  • — Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Wind-Crosswind-Effect on operation

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2024_CEN24LA154.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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