Amateur-built BAKENG DUCE accident near Dawson, Georgia, July 8, 1991
On July 8, 1991 at about 4:45 pm local time, a amateur-built BAKENG DUCE, registered N28372, was substantially damaged in an accident near Dawson, Georgia (Dawson Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S ABRUPT ROTATION AFTER FAILING TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING TAKEOFF ROLL, AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB, WHICH RESULTED IN A STALL. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS: THE PILOT'S LACK OF FAMILIARITY WITH THE AIRPLANE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 8, 1991 · about 4:45 pm local time
- Place
- Dawson, Georgia · Dawson Municipal
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built BAKENG DUCE BAKENG DUC
- Registration
- N28372 · no longer on the register · serial 329
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE COMMERCIAL PILOT HAD REPORTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH DIRECTIONAL CONTROL IN THIS AIRPLANE DURING TAKEOFFS AND LANDINGS. HE OBTAINED SOME INSTRUCTION IN A DIFFERENT TAILWHEEL AIRPLANE (A CESSNA 140), BUT COULD NOT FIND SOMEONE TO CHECK HIM OUT IN THE ACCIDENT AIRPLANE. HE ELECTED TO FLY THE AIRPLANE WITHOUT A CHECKOUT. ON TAKEOFF ROLL, HE WAS SEEN WEAVING FROM ONE SIDE OF THE RUNWAY TO THE OTHER. HE ABRUPTLY ROTATED AFTER DEPARTING THE RUNWAY SURFACE TO THE SIDE. THE WINGS 'WOBBLED,' THEN THE AIRPLANE WAS OBSERVED TO BE STALLING. THE AIRPLANE ROLLED OFF TO THE RIGHT AND IMPACTED THE TERRAIN IN A NOSE-LOW ATTITUDE. THE PILOT HAD ONLY 4 HOURS TOTAL TIME IN THIS MAKE/MODEL. HE REPORTED NO MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE AIRPLANE.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,989 hours in all; 4 in this make and model; 113 in the last 90 days; 1,798 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 31 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 22, 1990; 3 hours since
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-290-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: RMG Rome GA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 31, 2,790 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 15,000 ft; scat at 1,800 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:48 pm from ABY, 18 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.