Dehavilland TIGER MOTH DH 82A accident near Council Bluffs, Iowa, April 10, 2024
On April 10, 2024 at about 7:30 pm local time, a 1944 Dehavilland TIGER MOTH DH 82A, registered N675LF, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Council Bluffs, Iowa (Council Bluffs Muni airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the takeoff with a direct gusting crosswind.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 10, 2024 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Council Bluffs, Iowa · Council Bluffs Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Dehavilland TIGER MOTH DH 82A, built 1944 · all TIGER MOTH DH 82As on the register
- Registration
- N675LF · registry record · serial PG675
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that, during the takeoff roll on runway 18, the airplane veered left. The pilot attempted to correct with opposite rudder and aileron; however, the airplane exited the left side of the runway. During the excursion, the airplane rolled over a berm, and the left wing struck the ground. The airplane subsequently nosed over and came to rest inverted, which resulted in substantial damage to the right upper wing, left lower wing, vertical stabilizer, and rudder. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. At the time of the accident, the pilot was departing from runway 18 with wind from 270° at 12 knots, gusting to 20kts.
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
- Runway excursion during takeoff
- Other weather encounter during takeoff
- Loss of control on ground during takeoff defining event
- Attempted remediation/recovery during takeoff
- Nose over/nose down during takeoff
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 9,733 hours in all; 7.6 in this make and model; 14.6 in the last 90 days; 7.8 in the last 30 days; 5,979 as pilot in command; 4,039 on instruments
- Last flight review: September 25, 2023
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,366 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 15, 2024; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,850 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Dehavilland Gypsy Major 1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: KRDK Red Oak IA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 5,500 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 12 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.81 inHg
- Observation at 2:35 pm from KCBF
Weather report (METAR): KCBF 101935Z AUTO 27012G20KT 10SM CLR 22/02 A2981 RMK AO2
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on July 18, 2024. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot's Narrative | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Photos | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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 documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text 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 CEN24LA154.