Amateur-built Hummel Bird accident near Pittsville, Maryland, July 19, 2005
On July 19, 2005 at about 2:45 pm local time, a amateur-built Hummel Bird, registered N707TR, was substantially damaged in an accident near Pittsville, Maryland (Davis Airstrip airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A loss of control for undetermined reasons, which resulted in an uncontrolled descent into terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 19, 2005 · about 2:45 pm local time
- Place
- Pittsville, Maryland · Davis Airstrip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Hummel Bird
- Registration
- N707TR · 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 pilot had been building the accident airplane sporadically for approximately 11 years. The accident flight was the pilot's first flight in the airplane, and he had no record of prior flight experience in the same model as the accident airplane. Prior to departure, the pilot performed several high-speed taxis on a 2,750-foot-long, 105-foot-wide, turf runway. During the departure climb, about 200 feet agl, the airplane slowly rolled right and descended into a field about 2,000 feet beyond the end of the runway. Examination of the airplane confirmed flight control continuity, and did not reveal any pre-impact mechanical malfunctions with the airframe or 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
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,497 hours in all; 15 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1 hours
- Maximum gross weight: 530 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Volkswagen (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 6MD8 Pittsville MD at 2:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 2,750 ft by 105 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 79°F (26°C)
- Altimeter: 29.98 inHg
- Observation at 2:54 pm from SBY, 8 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
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.