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Accidents · NTSB ERA16LA204 · Final report

Amateur-built DUO DEUCE accident near Stafford, Virginia, June 6, 2016

On June 6, 2016 at about 9:59 pm local time, a 2016 amateur-built DUO DEUCE, registered N808DD, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Stafford, Virginia (Stafford Rgnl airport). It was a flight test 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 attain adequate airspeed during the initial climb after takeoff, which led to the airplane exceeding its critical angle of attack and experiencing an aerodynamic stall.

Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.

What the record shows

Date
June 6, 2016 · about 9:59 pm local time
Place
Stafford, Virginia · Stafford Rgnl · map
Type
Accident
Injuries
1 person was seriously injured.
Weather
visual conditions (good weather)
Aircraft
Amateur-built DUO DEUCE NO SERIES, built 2016
Registration
N808DD · registry record · serial 007
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Flight test · general aviation rules (Part 91)

The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record

The commercial pilot was also the owner and builder of the experimental, amateur-built airplane, which was a twin-engine airplane built from a single-engine airplane kit. The accident flight was the airplane's first flight, and it was captured by two airport security cameras as well as an on-board video recorded with the pilot's cell phone. The videos revealed that the airplane performed a shallow takeoff and initial climb. Almost immediately after takeoff, the airplane's track diverged from the runway centerline toward the right side of the runway and over the grass apron. Both propellers were operating at the same speed during the takeoff roll and throughout the entire flight. The airplane stopped climbing at what appeared to be treetop height, the wings rocked, and the airplane's nose continued to pitch up as it descended until ground contact, consistent with an aerodynamic stall. Although the pilot provided multiple statements that differed in their accounting of events after the accident, postaccident visual examination of the wreckage, the cell phone video of the propellers, and an operational test of the right engine revealed no preimpact mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. Thus, it is likely that the pilot did not attain adequate airspeed for the takeoff and initial climb, which resulted in an exceedance of the critical angle of attack and subsequent aerodynamic stall.

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

  1. Aerodynamic stall/spin during initial climb defining event
  2. Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent

The NTSB's findings

  • cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Angle of attack › Not attained/maintained
  • cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Not attained/maintained
  • cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot

Pilot

  • Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
  • Ratings: multi-engine land; multi-engine sea; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
  • Flight time: 6,420 hours in all; 0.5 in this make and model
  • Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
  • Seat: left
  • Injury: serious injuries

The aircraft

  • Airframe total time: 0.5 hours
  • Last inspection: condition inspection, March 10, 2016; 0 hours since
  • Seats: 2
  • Landing gear: fixed
  • Engine 1: Lycoming IO-320-B1A (piston); 1,110 hours total
  • Engine 2: Lycoming IO-320-B1A (piston); 1,110 hours total

The flight

  • Departed from: RMN Stafford VA
  • Destination: RMN Stafford VA
  • Flight plan: none
  • Runway 15, 5,000 ft by 100 ft

Weather at the time

  • Light: daylight
  • Wind: from 190° at 4 knots
  • Visibility: 10 statute miles
  • Sky: clear
  • Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
  • Altimeter: 29.73 inHg
  • Observation at 9:53 pm from KRMN, 1 miles away

Injuries

FatalSeriousMinorNone
Flight crew1

Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report

12 documents, released by the NTSB on December 1, 2017. 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.

The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.

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.