De Havilland DHC-3 Otter crash, Mar 31, 2001, Decatur
De Havilland DHC-3 Otter accident on March 31, 2001 near Decatur, Texas, United States with no fatalities. Cause: Pilot's failure to maintain control...
- Date: March 31, 2001
- Aircraft: De Havilland DHC-3 Otter
- Location: Decatur, Texas, United States
- Fatalities: 0
- Phase of flight: Takeoff and climb
- Cause: Pilot's failure to maintain control during takeoff and initial climb, with weight and balance exceeded and a dust devil encountered.
A De Havilland DHC-3 Otter carrying a pilot and 21 skydivers took off from a wet grass runway at Decatur and climbed at a steep angle. It struck trees and terrain about 250 yards east of the runway. The aircraft was over its weight and centre of gravity limits, and the pilot reported a dust devil.