Adopted: April 17, 1944

File No. 4301-43

REPORT OF THE CIVIL AERONAUTICS BOARD

on the

Investigation of an Accident involving Aircraft

During a Crop Seeding Flight

Pilot Daniel Jeremiah Holihan was seriously injured in an accident which occurred one-fourth mile east of Bobo, Mississippi, about 10:05 a.m. on October 3, 1943. Holihan held a private pilot certificate with a single-engine land, 0-60 h.p. rating. He had flown approximately 171 solo hours, around 24 of which were in the type of airplane involved. The aircraft, a Stearman C-3-B, NR 8821, equipped for crop dusting and seeding operations and owned by J. P. Robinson, was demolished.

Holihan took off from the Clarksdale, Mississippi Airport and proceeded to a farm field about 10 miles distant for the purpose of sowing vetch seed. He made one short pass over this field, pulled up to approximately 300 feet and started a turn to the left. Then about 90 degrees of this turn had been completed he stalled the aircraft and it started into a spin. The pilot stopped the spin and regained partial control but stated that in his attempt to pull out of the dive, he believed he stalled the airplane again. It struck the ground on its left wing and nose.

Little could be learned of the condition of the wreckage immediately after the accident as it was removed from the scene to the Clarksdale Airport and partially dismantled prior to the arrival of an air safety investigator. According to the pilot, however, the airplane and engine functioned normally during the flight.

Corp seeding necessitates low flying and the execution of fairly sharp turns at low altitudes. This type of flying requires reasonably expert skill and good judgment on the part of the pilot. Holihan had had very little experience in this type of flying and his experience in the type of aircraft involved was limited. The pilot himself stated that this accident was the result of "cockpit trouble" and that he was entirely to blame.

The probable cause of this accident was poor technique of the inexperienced pilot, resulting in a stall at low altitude, from which complete recovery was not affected.

BY THE BOARD

/s/ Fred A. Toombs

Secretary