N789TD

On June 25, 1999, about 1300 Eastern Daylight Time, a homebuilt Lancair 235, N789TD, was substantially damaged during landing at Hamilton-Fairfield Airport (HAO), Hamilton, Ohio. The certificated private pilot received minor injuries, and visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. No flight plan was filed for the flight between Highland County Airport (HOC), Hillsboro, Ohio, and Hamilton-Fairfield. The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector, the pilot was inbound to participate in an FAA-sponsored "Wings" proficiency program. The pilot made an approach to Runway 29, but performed a go-around prior to touchdown. During a second landing attempt, the airplane touched down, then veered to the left, and struck a runway light. The pilot added full power to abort the landing. The airplane then pitched nose-up, and rolled left. The propeller struck the ground, and the airplane cartwheeled before coming to a stop in front of a hangar.

The pilot stated that during the landing, right rudder input was "insufficient," and that the airplane hit the runway with the left main landing gear. The pilot applied full power, reduced flaps to 10 percent, maintained full right rudder, applied elevator back-pressure, and tried to abort the landing. Approximately 10 feet above the ground, the pilot entered a left turn to avoid hangers to the right. During the turn, the airplane's left wing struck the ground, and the airplane cartwheeled.

Runway 29 at Hamilton-Fairfield was about 5,400 feet in length, and 80 feet in width. Approximately 7 minutes before the accident, winds were recorded at the airport as being from 030 degrees magnetic, at 7 knots.

The pilot had 98 total flight hours, and less than 5 hours in make and model.