N9YK

On March 16, 1996, at 0940 eastern standard time (est), a Yakovlev, Yak C-11, N9YK, operated by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage when during landing at North Vernon, Indiana, the airplane impacted the terrain along side the runway. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was being conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. No flight plan was on file. The pilot reported no injuries. The flight originated at Louisville, Kentucky at 0900 est.

In his written statement, the pilot said that as he was crossing the threshold for landing, at an altitude of 20 feet above ground level (AGL) and an airspeed of 100 knots, "an excessive sink rate was detected." The pilot applied aft stick pressure and climbed to approximately 20 feet AGL, then applied power. The airplane rolled left. The left wing tip struck the terrain 20 feet left of the runway, followed by the propeller and cowling. The airplane then "spun in a counter-clockwise direction and fell to the ground coming to rest with the nose pointed toward the runway, approximately 40 feet from the runway's edge."

The Federal Aviation Administration inspector who examined the wreckage at the scene found damage to both wing tips, the right main landing gear, the propeller and cowling. The forward fuselage skin, skin along the leading edges of both wings, and skin along the bottom of the fuselage showed substantial wrinkling. The right main wing spar was bent up approximately 25 degrees. Flight control continuity was confirmed. No other anomalies were found.