# Accident 20241020021419A: Geisz Gilbert A LANCAIR 360, Cross City, FL, October 20, 2024

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 20, 2024, 16:00 local time
- Place: Cross City, FL
- Airport: Cross City Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 29.6426° N, 83.0977° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.6426&lon=-83.0977&mi=10
- Aircraft: N510G, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N510G) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Geisz Gilbert A LANCAIR 360 (registry code 05622PT, https://openairdocs.org/model/geisz-gilbert-a-lancair-360) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming O-360-A1A (registry code 41594, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-a1a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: GEISZ GILBERT A LANCAIR 360
- Reported engine: LYCOMING O-360-A1A
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 2
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA25FA020](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25FA020) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20241020021419A

## Narrative

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

ON SUNDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2024, AN EXPERIMENTAL AMATUER BUILT LANCAIR 360, REGISTERED AS ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^, SERIAL NUMBER 660-320-404FB, WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AT CROSS CITY AIRPORT (KCTY) IN CROSS CITY, FL.  THE ACCIDENT RESULTED IN SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT AND FATAL INJURIES TO THE PILOT AND PASSENGER.

THE AIRCRAFT ORIGINALLY DEPARTED ATMORE MUNICIPAL AIRPORT (OR1) IN ALTMORE, AL UNDER AN INSTRUMENT FLIGHT RULES (IFR) FLIGHT PLAN DESTINED FOR CROSS CITY AIRPORT (KCTY) IN CROSS CITY, FL.

WHILE ENROUTE, AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL (ATC) LOST CONTACT WITH THE AIRCRAFT.  ATC ADVISED THAT THEY THOUGHT THE AIRCRAFT WAS EXPERIENCING AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE.  ATC CONTACTED THE FIXED BASED OPERATOR (FBO) STAFF AT KCTY REGARDING N510G.

AN EYEWITNESS FROM KCTY REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE WAS “SPITTING, SPUTTERING, AND POPPING” WHEN IT OVERFLEW THE AIRPORT OFFICE.  HE ADDED THAT THE AIRCRAFT LOOKED LIKE IT WAS TRYING TO ENTER A LEFT HAND TRAFFIC PATTERN FOR RUNWAY 22 EVEN THOUGH THE “FULL” WINDSOCK FAVORED RUNWAY 4.  HE RECALLED THAT THE AIRCRAFT LOOKED LIKE THEY TRIED TO CORRECT AND ENTER A TRAFFIC PATTERN FOR RUNWAY 4.  ALL OF A SUDDEN THE AIRCRAFT “NOSE-DIVED” INTO THE GROUND, WITH ITS LEFT WING DOWN FIRST ATTITUDE.

THE POST ACCIDENT SCENE REVEALED GROUND SCARRING AND AT LEAST TWO POINTS OF IMPACT.  THE AIRCRAFT’S RIGHT HAND WING SEPERATED FROM THE FUSELAGE.  THE VARIABLE PITCH PROPELLOR WAS SHEARED OFF FROM THE ENGINE BUT INTACT.  THE TAIL OF THE AIRCRAFT WAS RELATIVLY INTACT FROM THE REAR BAGGAGE COMPARTMENT AFT.  THE AIRCRAFT SHOWED SIGNS IF COMPRESSION AND BUCKLING JUST FORWARD OF ELEVATOR / HORIZONTAL STABILIZER.  THE LANDING GEAR HANDLE WAS IN THE “UP” POSITION.  THE CONTINUITY OF THE FLIGHT CONTROLS WAS ONLY VISIBLE TO THE AILERONS.  BOTH LEFT HAND AND RIGHT HAND FUEL TANKS WERE NOTED AS “DRY” WITH NO VISIBLE FUEL PRESENT. NO POST ACCIDENT FIRE WAS OBSERVED OR NOTED.

## 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 ERA25FA020](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25FA020), Oct 20, 2024: Geisz Gilbert A Lancair 360 (N510G), Cross City, FL, substantial damage, 2 fatal, investigation ongoing

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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