Accident Overview
On November 15, 2014, about 1030 eastern standard time, a DeHavilland DH82A Tiger Moth, registration N28681, was destroyed when it collided with structures and terrain following a loss of control in flight at Peach State Airport (GA2), Williamson, Georgia. The private pilot sustained minor injuries, and the pilot-rated passenger sustained serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight, which originated from GA2 about 1020. The flight was conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.
Pilot's Account
According to the pilot, who was interviewed by telephone and provided a written statement, the purpose of the flight was to familiarize the passenger with the operation of the airplane. The preflight inspection, engine start, warm-up, taxi, and takeoff were conducted without any anomalies. The pilot briefed the passenger that he would depart from runway 31, perform some turns, and return over the airport to enter a right downwind for landing on runway 13.
The pilot reported that the engine power and performance were "good" and that the airplane demonstrated its "gentle" handling characteristics during both left and right 30-degree bank turns. After crossing the airport at about traffic pattern altitude, the pilot remembered being in a vertical, nose-down descent. He had no recollection of how the airplane transitioned from level flight to descending nose down.
During the descent, the pilot held the control stick fully aft. The elevator gained enough authority to level the airplane just above ground level, and he flew between a parked airplane and the airport restaurant. The airplane then collided with a flagpole, the restaurant, and terrain before coming to rest upright. The pilot stated that once airspeed increased sufficiently during the descent, he had full flight control authority.
Wreckage and Aircraft Information
Photographs of the wreckage taken by a local media outlet revealed that the entire tube and fabric structure of the airplane was completely destroyed. A flag and flagpole were seen entangled with the wreckage; the engine and propeller were not visible.
According to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and maintenance records, the airplane was manufactured in 1945. Its most recent annual inspection was completed on October 3, 2014, at a total aircraft time of 1,749 hours.
The pilot reported that there were no mechanical deficiencies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Pilot Information
The pilot held a private pilot certificate with a rating for airplane single engine land. His most recent FAA third-class medical certificate was issued on April 8, 2014. The pilot reported 1,400 total hours of flight experience, of which 305 hours were in the accident airplane make and model.