History of Flight
On August 17, 2008, at 1550 eastern daylight time, an amateur-built Nieuport 24bis, registration N5246, was destroyed when it impacted trees and terrain while maneuvering near Old Rhinebeck Airport (NY94), Rhinebeck, New York. The certificated airline transport pilot was fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local air show flight, which was conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.
According to information provided by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, the accident flight was a two-airplane aerial demonstration of World War I vintage aircraft simulating a "dogfight." The other airplane participating was a Fokker DR-1. The entire flight was conducted about 300 feet above ground level.
The pilot of the Fokker reported that he and the accident pilot briefed prior to the flight, and the accident pilot departed first in the Nieuport. The Fokker pilot followed behind while they performed a 360-degree turn, followed by a "lead change" where the trailing airplane turned first. The Nieuport then followed the Fokker for another 360-degree turn before performing another lead change at the air show center point. After a third 360-degree turn, both airplanes proceeded east, then turned away from each other—the Nieuport heading south and the Fokker north.
As the Fokker turned back toward the show line, the pilot noticed the Nieuport beginning a left turn. The Fokker pilot looked away briefly and next saw the Nieuport "what looked to be a 3 turn spin to the left," before it disappeared into the trees below. The Fokker pilot circled the accident site to assist first responders.
Wreckage and Examination
The FAA inspector examined and photographed the wreckage. The accident site was in a densely wooded area with trees over 100 feet tall. The trees immediately above the wreckage were disturbed, and several large tree branches with cuts consistent with propeller contact lay on the ground. The wreckage was consumed by a post-impact fire.
A subsequent examination confirmed continuity of flight controls from the cockpit to all control surfaces. Removal and examination of all front cylinder spark plugs revealed normal wear. Drivetrain continuity was confirmed, and compression was obtained on all cylinders. The carburetor could not be inspected due to impact damage, but the throttle arm and throttle control were locked in the full open position. The magnetos were fire-damaged and could not be rotated. The fuel strainer was absent of debris.
Fuel samples taken from the tank used to service the airplane prior to the accident flight were absent of water or debris. All other aircraft participating in the airshow that day, including the Fokker, were serviced from the same tank with no abnormalities noted.
Pilot Information
The pilot held an airline transport pilot certificate with airplane multiengine land rating, a commercial pilot certificate with single-engine land and sea ratings, and a flight instructor certificate with single and multiengine and instrument airplane ratings. His most recent FAA second-class medical certificate was issued on May 20, 2008, with the limitation "holder shall possess glasses for near vision."
According to operator training documents, as of August 8, 2008, the pilot had accumulated 3,881 total flight hours, 2,372 of which were in tailwheel-equipped airplanes. He completed the operator's initial qualification training in the Nieuport 24 on July 10, 2008, with 5 flights totaling 1.0 hours of training. According to the FAA inspector, the pilot had flown about 3 additional hours in the accident airplane since then and had experience in other vintage aircraft.
Aircraft Information
FAA airworthiness and registration records indicate the accident airplane was built in Florida in 1997, then registered in New Zealand before the operator took ownership and re-registered it in the United States on August 29, 2007. It was subsequently inspected by a designated airworthiness representative and issued a special airworthiness certificate on May 29, 2008.
Weather
The weather conditions at Dutchess County Airport (POU), Poughkeepsie, New York, about 20 nautical miles south of the accident site, at 1553, included winds from 230 degrees at 7 knots, 10 statute miles visibility, scattered clouds at 6,000 feet, temperature 28 degrees C, dewpoint 15 degrees C, and an altimeter setting of 29.89 inches of mercury.