Amateur-built DHC-1-22 accident near Abilene, Texas, November 12, 1984
On November 12, 1984 at about 8:52 pm local time, a amateur-built DHC-1-22, registered N95HP, was destroyed in an accident near Abilene, Texas (Elmdale Airpark airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 12, 1984 · about 8:52 pm local time
- Place
- Abilene, Texas · Elmdale Airpark
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built DHC-1-22
- Registration
- N95HP · registry record · serial CI-0190
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ACFT CRASHED WHILE ATTEMPTING AN INTENTIONAL LOW LEVEL ACROBATIC MANEUVER (LEFT ROLL) OVER THE RWY. WITNESSES STATED THAT THE ACFT MADE A LOW PASS (100-200' AGL) DOWN THE RWY & ENTERED THE ROLL. AT THE INVERTED POSITION, THE NOSE FELL THRU, BUT THE MANEUVER WAS CONTINUED. THE ACFT DISHED OUT AT THE BOTTOM AND IMPACTED IN A WINGS LEVEL, 0 DEG PITCH ATTITUDE WITH HIGH VERTICAL VELOCITY ABOUT 200 YDS RIGHT OF THE RWY. A POST-CRASH FIRE ERUPTED AFTER THE ACFT CAME TO REST. THE PIC (CFI) WAS NOT CLEARED FOR LOW LEVEL ACROBATICS BY THE FAA.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,700 hours in all; 100 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days; 5,200 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 2, 1984
- Maximum gross weight: 2,100 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: De Havilland GIPSY MAJOR (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: 6F4 Abilene TX at 7:50 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 2,950 ft by 25 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:52 pm from ABI, 3 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.