20111006024619A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Brinkerhuff Gerald G Q200 · Holland, MI · October 6, 2011

Date: October 6, 2011 · 18:35 local
Place: Holland, MI
Airport: Tulip City
Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N2935R
NTSB investigation: NTSBCEN12FA010
Reported as: Brinkerhuff Gerald G Q200
Reported engine: Continental O-200-A
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 1
Other injuries: 0
Pilot’s certificate: Private pilot
Pilot’s flight hours: 560 total2 in this make and model20 in the last 90 days

N2935RRegistration cancelled Apr 27, 2012 · Brinkerhuff Gerald G Q200S/N 2036 · Built 2010 Airframe modelBrinkerhuff Gerald G Q200 Engine modelContinental O-200-D4 cycle

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

During a low approach to runway 26 at biv, the aircraft left forward canard hit the top beam of an approach light system pole at 14 feet 8 inches in height. The aircraft continued 190 feet, impacted the ground and then flipped over, skidding inverted an additional 100 feet before coming to rest. The pilot received fatal injuries. The composite propeller shattered upon initial impact with the ground indicating the engine was operational and the aircraft was under power. There was no post-crash fire, although there was strong presence of fuel odor. Witnesses stated that just prior to the accident they saw the pilot perform at least one touch and go landing and the aircraft and engine appeared and sounded normal.

As the FAA filed it

DURING A LOW APPROACH TO RUNWAY 26 AT BIV, THE AIRCRAFT LEFT FORWARD CANARD HIT THE TOP BEAM OF AN APPROACH LIGHT SYSTEM POLE AT 14 FEET 8 INCHES IN HEIGHT. THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED 190 FEET, IMPACTED THE GROUND AND THEN FLIPPED OVER, SKIDDING INVERTED AN ADDITIONAL 100 FEET BEFORE COMING TO REST. THE PILOT RECEIVED FATAL INJURIES.THE COMPOSITE PROPELLER SHATTERED UPON INITIAL IMPACT WITH THE GROUND INDICATING THE ENGINE WAS OPERATIONAL AND THE AIRCRAFT WAS UNDER POWER. THERE WAS NO POST-CRASH FIRE, ALTHOUGH THERE WAS STRONG PRESENCE OF FUEL ODOR.WITNESSES STATED THAT JUST PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT THEY SAW THE PILOT PERFORM AT LEAST ONE TOUCH AND GO LANDING AND THE AIRCRAFT AND ENGINE APPEARED AND SOUNDED NORMAL.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB CEN12FA010Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportHolland, MIThe pilot failed to maintain sufficient altitude during the landing approach, which resulted in the airplane contacting an approach light. Contributing to the accident was the setting sun, which most likely obscured the pilot’s vision.Oct 6, 2011 · Substantial damage