Amateur-built 1905 WRIGHT FLYER accident near Dayton, Ohio, October 1, 2009
On October 1, 2009 at about 1:30 pm local time, a amateur-built 1905 WRIGHT FLYER, registered N3635N, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Dayton, Ohio (Huffman Prairie Flying Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane during the flight, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 1, 2009 · about 1:30 pm local time
- Place
- Dayton, Ohio · Huffman Prairie Flying Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built 1905 WRIGHT FLYER
- Registration
- N3635N · no longer on the register · serial 1
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane, which was built by the pilot, was a replica of the Wright Brothers 1905 airplane. The purpose of the flight was to practice in preparation for the 104th Anniversary of Practical Flight celebration. The accident occurred on the second flight of the day. After takeoff, the airplane climbed to an altitude of 15 to 20 feet, then entered a shallow descending right bank. The wings of the airplane leveled and the nose pitched up. The nose of the airplane then dropped and the airplane impacted the terrain. The airplane received substantial damage to the fuselage, wings, and elevator. A 4-knot tailwind prevailed at the time of the accident. Postaccident inspection of the airplane failed to reveal any preimpact failures or malfunctions.
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
What happened, in order
- Aerodynamic stall/spin during enroute (cruise)
- Loss of control in flight during enroute (cruise) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Tailwind › Not specified
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › (general) › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: ctr
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: condition inspection, May 13, 2009
- Maximum gross weight: 700 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FFO Dayton OH at 1:30 pm
- Destination: FFO Dayton OH
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 46°F (8°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.11 inHg
- Observation at 1:25 pm from FFO
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 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.
Other NTSB records under N3635N the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.