THE DTSB
Pending. According to witnesses, pilot likely attempted impossible turn after loss of thrust on takeoff.
U-FITAQP: 21) THE IMPOSSIBLE TURN
Fokker DR. 1 Replica | N54517
- DTSB analysis published
Key facts
- DateMay 26, 2026
- Local time8:10 AM
- LightDay
- WeatherVMC
- Phase of flightTakeoff
- People on board1
- Fatalities1
- AirportT25
Accident Location
- City, State
- Frankston, Texas
- Latitude
- 32.081758
- Longitude
- -95.456214
- Airport ID
- T25
Aircraft Info
- N Number
- N54517
- Make
- Fokker
- Model
- DR. 1 Replica
- Category / Class
- Aircraft Single Engine Land
- Amateur Built
- Yes
Pilot Info
- Pilot in command
- Whiddon, Mark Henry
- Gender
- Male
- Age
- 59
- Certification
- Private Pilot
- IFR rating
- No
- Medical
- 3rd Class Medical
- Flight school
- No
- Instructional flight
- No
Analysis
- Weather
- VMC
- Time of day
- Day
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Pilot error
- Yes
- Pilot incapacitation
- No
- People on board
- 1
- PIC fatality
- 1
- Total fatalities
- 1
- NTSB travel
- Unknown
- AQP category
- 21) THE IMPOSSIBLE TURN →
Probable Cause
NTSB
None yet (final report not yet published).
Recommendation
THE DTSB
Pending.
NTSB
None issued. NTSB recommendations are rare and usually tied to high-profile accidents.
See the NTSB Recommendation Tracker →