N320SE

On October 10, 1993, at about 1430 central daylight time, a Ehlers, Lancair 320, N320SE, registered to Craig S. Ehlers, crashed on landing at Stennis International Airport, Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. The airplane was destroyed. The private pilot sustained serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The fight originated from Stennis International Airport about 5 minutes before the accident.

A witness who observed the accident stated to the NTSB investigator-in-charge that the airplane had made one touch-and- go landing before to the accident. The witness observed the airplane on final approach to runway 35. The airplane touched down left of center line, bounced, and touched down a second time in a left skid. The airplane became airborne reaching about 60 to 80 feet agl in a nose-up attitude estimated at about 70 degrees. The left wing of the airplane was observed to drop, the airplane rolled left, the nose pitched down as if the airplane was in a stall, and the airplane collided with the trees and the terrain.

Examination of the crash site by the FAA revealed no evidence to indicate any precrash mechanical failure or malfunction of the airframe or flight control system. In addition the FAA inspector stated in a written statement to the NTSB investigator-in-charge that, "There seemed to be no indication of a split flap situation or any type of preimpact failure."