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ERA22LA116

2022-02-05 · Gilbert, South Carolina, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Current FAA registration · N1454Z

Make / Model
DEHAVILLAND DHC-2
Year of manufacture
1955 · 67 years old at event
Engine
NONE NONE
Seats / Engines
8 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
19770218
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S A0B83F

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot’s improper flap setting, which resulted in a collision with trees during a takeoff attempt from a short grass field.

Factual narrative

The pilot of the tailwheel airplane reported that he was attempting to depart a 1,000-ft-long pasture. He forgot to position the flaps to takeoff setting and by the time he realized the error, it was too late to reject the takeoff. The pilot attempted to clear trees at the end of the pasture with the flaps retracted, but the airplane collided with the trees and came to rest upright. The pilot added that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions with the airplane. Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed substantial damage to the left wing. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

  • — Personnel issues-Action/decision-Action-Forgotten action/omission-Pilot
  • — Aircraft-Aircraft structures-Wing structure-Trailing edge flaps-Incorrect use/operation

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2022_ERA22LA116.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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