# Accident 20001021014979A: Amtr LUTONBETA, Ridgeland, SC, October 21, 2000

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 21, 2000, 10:50 local time
- Place: Ridgeland, SC
- Airport: Ridgeland Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Final Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 32.4807° N, 80.9797° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.4807&lon=-80.9797&mi=10
- Aircraft: N545CM, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N545CM-2001-01-18) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Merrill Craig R LUTON BETA (registry code 05606RX, https://openairdocs.org/model/merrill-craig-r-luton-beta) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AMTR LUTONBETA
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 484 total, 70 in this make and model
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB MIA01LA014](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA01LA014) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20001021014979A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(-23) UPON LANDING THE A/C BOUNCED ONCE AND VEERED TO THE RIGHT AND ENTERED A DITCH THAT RUNS PARRELLEL TO THE RUNWAY. THE A/C CONTACTED THE GROUND, FLIPPED OVER INVERTED ANC CAME TO REST IN THE DITCH. THE PILOT WAS THE ONLY PERSON ON BOARD AND RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES. THE A/C SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. (.4) ON OCTOBER 21, 2000, ABOUT 1050 EASTERN DAYLIGHT TIME, A CRAIG R. MERRILL LUTON BETA, N545CM, REGISTERED TO AN INDIVIDUAL, CRASHED DURING LANDING AT RIDGELAND AIRPORT, RIDGELAND, SOUTH CAROLINA, WHILE ON A TITLE 14 CFR PART 91 PERSONAL FLIGHT. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. THE AIRCRAFT RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE AND THE PRIVATE-RATED PILOT RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED FROM RIDGELAND, SOUTH CAROLINA, THE SAME DAY, ABOUT 1040.  THE PILOT STATED THAT AFTER A SHORT LOCAL FLIGHT, HE RETURNED TO THE AIRPORT AND ENTERED THE PATTERN FOR A LANDING ON RUNWAY 3. ON FINAL APPROACH HE SET THE ATTITUDE FOR LANDING AND THE AIRCRAFT SETTLED QUICKER AND FASTER THAN HE ANTICIPATED. WHEN THE AIRCRAFT TOUCHED DOWN, IT BOUNCED AND WENT TO THE RIGHT. HE ATTE                                                                   MPTED TO APPLY ENGINE POWER BUT IT WAS TOO LATE. THE AIRCRAFT WENT DOWN THE EMBANKMENT ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY AND CRASHED, COMING TO REST INVERTED.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB MIA01LA014](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA01LA014), Oct 21, 2000: Craig R. Merrill Luton Beta (N545CM), Ridgeland, SC, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed on final approach resulting in the aircraft settling fast, touching down hard, and colliding with an embankment on the side of the runway, where it came to…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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