Monday, November 15, 2021

Dornier D027-B2, N27TQ: Accident occurred November 12, 2021 at Blue Ridge Airport (KMTV), Martinsville, Henry County, Virginia



Additional Participating Entity: 
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Richmond, Virginia

TQ-Systems USA Inc

Location: Martinsville, Virginia
Accident Number: ERA22LA061
Date and Time: November 12, 2021, 14:30 Local
Registration: N27TQ
Injuries: 1 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: ERIC A MUNZER
Registration: N27TQ
Model/Series: DORNIER D027-B2 
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Amateur Built:
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None
Operator Designator Code:

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site:
Condition of Light:
Observation Facility, Elevation:
Observation Time:
Distance from Accident Site: 
Temperature/Dew Point:
Lowest Cloud Condition:
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: / ,
Lowest Ceiling:
Altimeter Setting: 
Type of Flight Plan Filed:
Departure Point:

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 None 
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: N/A 
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: 
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 None
Latitude, Longitude: 36.630752,-80.018338 (est)


  1. 5000 Foot runway.

    Past photos from Oshkosh:

  2. How the hell does a tail dragger like this not get airborne from a 5000' runway?

  3. The aircraft was very recently sold by TQ-Systems to a private owner in North Carolina. The aircraft had been in storage in a facility in Oklahoma, and was returned to service and flown to NC in the weeks preceding this incident. Coincidentally, last week I met the RH occupant during the incident flight. According to him, the reason behind the incident was a failed brake on one of the mains. The aircraft overran the runway (not sure if that means past the end, or off to the side) and one of the mains broke off.

    Knowing that the Do-27 can be quite a squirrely airplane on the ground, I wouldn't be surprised if the pilot lost directional control during the takeoff run. Do-27's are rather rare nowadays (the mechanic in Oklahoma [who is also an experienced pilot] indicated that there are less than a few dozen pilots that *know* the Do-27) so it's quite unfortunate to see this one bite the dust.

    That said, it's relieving to see nobody was hurt. I myself experienced a burst brake line in a Cessna, but luck would have it that it happened during the run-up. I can only imagine what would have happened if one of the brakes bottomed out on landing or takeoff.