Casualties unknown

Aircraft Crashes During Intentional Low Level Acrobatic Roll Over Runway (N95HP)

Abilene, TX, US

On November 12, 1984, a DE Havilland DHC-1-22 (registration N95HP) operated by Dimberly B. Pardue was involved in an aviation accident near Abilene, TX. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 2026-07-04Data APIEditorial standards

An aircraft crashed while performing an intentional low level left roll over a runway. The pilot, a CFI not cleared for low level acrobatics, executed a low pass and roll but the aircraft impacted with high vertical velocity and caught fire.

Accident Sequence

Witnesses reported that the aircraft made a low pass down the runway at an altitude of approximately 100-200 feet above ground level. The pilot, a certified flight instructor (CFI), then entered an intentional left roll maneuver. During the roll, as the aircraft reached the inverted position, the nose dropped below the horizon, but the maneuver was continued. The aircraft subsequently dished out at the bottom of the roll and impacted the ground in a wings-level, zero-degree pitch attitude with a high vertical velocity. The impact occurred about 200 yards to the right of the runway. A post-crash fire erupted after the aircraft came to rest.

Pilot Authorization

The pilot in command (PIC), who was a CFI, had not been cleared by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for low level acrobatic maneuvers.

Wreckage and Impact

The aircraft came to rest after the collision, and a fire ensued. The specific damage to the aircraft was not detailed, but the fire indicates significant destruction.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 12 Nov 1984 DE Havilland DHC-1-22 accident near Abilene, TX?

An aircraft crashed while performing an intentional low level left roll over a runway. The pilot, a CFI not cleared for low level acrobatics, executed a low pass and roll but the aircraft impacted with high vertical velocity and caught fire.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 12 Nov 1984 involved a DE Havilland DHC-1-22, registration N95HP, operated by Dimberly B. Pardue, at Abilene, TX.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001214X41567. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.