Dehavilland TIGER MOTH DH 82A accident near Lampasas, Texas, January 23, 2022
On January 23, 2022 at about 11:28 pm local time, a 1940 Dehavilland TIGER MOTH DH 82A, registered N5300, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering near Lampasas, Texas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The failure of a bolt in the engine valve system which resulted in malfunction of the engine exhaust valve system and a partial loss of engine power. The rough terrain encountered during the forced landing contributed to the outcome.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 23, 2022 · about 11:28 pm local time
- Place
- Lampasas, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Dehavilland TIGER MOTH DH 82A, built 1940 · all TIGER MOTH DH 82As on the register
- Registration
- N5300 · registry record · serial T-5703
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane’s engine lost partial power and the pilot was unable to maintain altitude. He executed a forced landing to a terraced farm field. During the landing, the airplane struck one of the terraced areas and nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the rudder, engine mounts, and lower right wing. Postaccident examination of the engine revealed that the ball end of the No. 2 cylinder exhaust valve rocker was not seated in the pushrod. Additionally, the head of one of the bolts securing the rocker arm bracket had fractured and the bolt head was found in the rocker cover. Based on the available evidence it is likely that the fractured bolt head allowed enough movement of the No. 2 cylinder rocker arm bracket for the pushrod to become separated from the ball end of the rocker arm. This prevented the exhaust valve for the No.2 cylinder from opening and thereby reducing the power output of the engine.
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
- Loss of engine power (partial) during maneuvering defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › Recip eng cyl section › Failure
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › Recip eng cyl section › Malfunction
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface › (general) › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 4,850 hours in all; 2 in this make and model; 22 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 3,830 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 16, 2021
- Maximum gross weight: 1,825 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: De Havilland Gipsy Major 1 (piston); 751 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LZZ Lampasas TX at 11:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,400 ft
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.09 inHg
- Observation at 5:35 pm from KLZZ, 3 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KLZZ 232335Z AUTO 21004KT 10SM BKN044 OVC055 13/01 A3009 RMK AO2 T01310013=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CEN22LA106.