NTSB Factual Report

On July 9, 2011, at 1105 central daylight time, N22DH, a Dehavilland DHC-1, sustained substantial damage after it lost control on final approach to runway 17 at Lloyd Stearman Airport (1K1), Benton, Kansas. The private pilot/registered owner sustained serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.

Two witnesses, who were flying a helicopter in the traffic pattern, saw the airplane enter a sudden, 360 degree turn to the right over the end of the runway. According to one witness, as the airplane entered the turn, the wings appeared to buffet but the pilot recovered on a north heading about 200 feet above the ground. As the pilot attempted to turn back to the runway, the airplane stalled and spun to the right. It collided with terrain about a half mile north west of the runway.

According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, he along with two other inspectors, performed a postaccident examination of the airplane and interviewed the pilot. He said the pilot had recently purchased the airplane and was practicing touch and go landings when the accident occurred. The pilot said that while on final approach, he made a right 360 degree turn for spacing and subsequently got slow, stalled, and entered a spin. The pilot was unable to recover from the spin before the airplane struck the ground. The airplane came to rest against a residential shed resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage, both wings, and the tail section. There was no postimpact fire. The pilot reported there were no mechanical problems with the airplane or engine prior to the accident.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot did not maintain sufficient airspeed while maneuvering at low altitude, which resulted in an inadvertent stall and spin.