What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Aircraft in-close on short-field approach to Flagler County Airport (kxfl) runway 6 experienced sudden and rapid settling, consistent with a stall, during flare. Aircraft contacted runway surface with enough downward force to cause substantial damage, including spar delamination. No injuries were reported. Fresh propeller strikes, including wood fragments. Were observed approximately 12 ft left of runway centerline. Applicant / PIC was interviewed at the scene and provided written statement indicating he initiated flare at approximately 20 ft AGL with full flaps, and used approximately 67 KIAS airspeed. He stated a left crosswind was present. Kxfl metars at 1655Z and 1755Z reported winds of 060 deg true at 12 kt.DPE stated that approach had been stable up to the onset of rapid settling. When the rapid settling occurred, the aircraft was too low for DPE to take controls and initiate go-around prior to impact.
As the FAA filed it
AIRCRAFT IN-CLOSE ON SHORT-FIELD APPROACH TO FLAGLER COUNTY AIRPORT (KXFL) RUNWAY 6 EXPERIENCED SUDDEN AND RAPID SETTLING, CONSISTENT WITH A STALL, DURING FLARE. AIRCRAFT CONTACTED RUNWAY SURFACE WITH ENOUGH DOWNWARD FORCE TO CAUSE SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE, INCLUDING SPAR DELAMINATION. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. FRESH PROPELLER STRIKES, INCLUDING WOOD FRAGMENTS. WERE OBSERVED APPROXIMATELY 12 FT LEFT OF RUNWAY CENTERLINE.APPLICANT / PIC WAS INTERVIEWED AT THE SCENE AND PROVIDED WRITTEN STATEMENT INDICATING HE INITIATED FLARE AT APPROXIMATELY 20 FT AGL WITH FULL FLAPS, AND USED APPROXIMATELY 67 KIAS AIRSPEED. HE STATED A LEFT CROSSWIND WAS PRESENT. KXFL METARS AT 1655Z AND 1755Z REPORTED WINDS OF 060 DEG TRUE AT 12 KT.DPE STATED THAT APPROACH HAD BEEN STABLE UP TO THE ONSET OF RAPID SETTLING. WHEN THE RAPID SETTLING OCCURRED, THE AIRCRAFT WAS TOO LOW FOR DPE TO TAKE CONTROLS AND INITIATE GO-AROUND PRIOR TO IMPACT.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.
Other reports on N607PA · 2
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.