Summary
On April 14, 1999, a Hoskins Craig LIGHTNING BUG (N450CH) was involved in an accident near Crystal River, FL. The accident resulted in 1 serious injury. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this accident to be: The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane, which resulted in an inadvertent stall.
On April 14, 1999, at 1100 eastern daylight time, a Hoskins Craig, homebuilt Lightning Bug airplane, N450CH, collided with the runway while landing at the Crystal River Airport in Crystal River, Florida. The airplane was operated by the private pilot under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91, and visual flight rules. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the accident site, and no flight plan was filed for the cross-country flight. The pilot received serious injuries and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The airplane departed Enterprise, Alabama, at 0925.
According to a witness, the airplane landed fast and hard on runway nine.
This accident is documented in NTSB report ATL99LA071. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N450CH.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane, which resulted in an inadvertent stall.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Historical)
Analysis
On April 14, 1999, at 1100 eastern daylight time, a Hoskins Craig, homebuilt Lightning Bug airplane, N450CH, collided with the runway while landing at the Crystal River Airport in Crystal River, Florida. The airplane was operated by the private pilot under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91, and visual flight rules. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the accident site, and no flight plan was filed for the cross-country flight. The pilot received serious injuries and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The airplane departed Enterprise, Alabama, at 0925.
According to a witness, the airplane landed fast and hard on runway nine. Upon touchdown, the airplane bounced and stalled, colliding with the runway on the nose gear and one wing.
The pilot stated that he was landing at the Crystal River Airport to refuel prior to flying to Lakeland, Florida, at about 1130. He said that his approach speed on short final was slightly high. Upon touchdown, the airplane ballooned up about four to five feet. To avoid damaging the nose gear, he elected to go-around. He applied full power and retracted the nose gear but did not retract the flaps. The airplane drifted to the right. The right wing tip struck the ground and the airplane cartwheeled coming to rest inverted. The pilot released his seatbelt and crawled clear of the aircraft. Additionally, the pilot added, that his assessment of the accident was that his "focus on personal pilot proficiency was sub-standard." And in retrospect, he should have spent more time doing approach stalls at high altitude and more touch and go landings.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# ATL99LA071