N450CH

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.