Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain a proper approach path during landing.
NTSB analysis
The pilot stated that he was landing at the conclusion of a local flight. As the airplane passed over the runway threshold the airplane's main landing gear contacted high grass. The airplane nosed over and impacted the runway inverted, resulting in substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer and both left and right top wings. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with the airplane prior to the accident, and that the accident could have been prevented by conducting a higher approach to landing.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ERA11CA420 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Jul 23, 2011
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Rockland, Maine
- Nearest airport
- Knox County (RKD)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Dehavilland TIGER MOTH DH 82A
- N-number
- N8872
- Category
- Airplane
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.