N641TD

Substantial
None

ROBIDOUX LIONEL WITTMAN W 10S/N: 456

Accident Details

Date
Sunday, December 30, 2012
NTSB Number
CEN13CA120
Location
Hobart, IN
Event ID
20130102X24850
Coordinates
41.552501, -87.257499
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
Highest Injury
None
Fatalities
0
Serious Injuries
0
Minor Injuries
0
Uninjured
1
Total Aboard
1

Probable Cause and Findings

The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate airspeed during landing, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and subsequent hard landing.

Aircraft Information

Registration
Make
ROBIDOUX LIONEL
Serial Number
456
Engine Type
Reciprocating
Year Built
1996
Model / ICAO
WITTMAN W 10
Aircraft Type
Fixed Wing Single Engine
No. of Engines
1
Seats
2
FAA Model
WITTMAN W 10

Registered Owner (Current)

Name
DORNSEIF KEITH
Address
6750 E 84TH DR
City
MERRILLVILLE
State / Zip Code
IN 46410-7408
Country
United States

Analysis

The pilot reported that the airplane’s airspeed was about 20 mph slower than normal when he turned on final approach. After clearing obstructions at the end of the runway the pilot started to flare for a landing when the airplane suddenly dropped and impacted the runway surface. The hard landing partially collapsed the left main landing gear and resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures associated with the airplane prior to the accident and noted that the accident could have been prevented if he had maintained a safe airspeed.

Data Source

Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# CEN13CA120