ATL01LA084

NTSB accident investigation · Fleet BI-PLANE · Homestead, FL · July 6, 2001

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
July 6, 2001, 19:50 local (23:50 UTC)
Place
Homestead, FL
Injuries
1 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
NC8627Fleet BI-PLANE
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report June 3, 2002
Report
Approved by Office Director
Parties
FAA - Miami FSDO
Case key
52720

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

On this page

Probable cause

The pilot's improper use of flight controls during a landing on a sod airstrip that resulted in a nose over.

Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

Nose overLanding - roll
Flight controls - improper use ofPilot in commandCause
Terrain condition - grass

Analysis

According to the pilot, the tail came up during the landing roll, and the airplane nosed over. No mechanical problem with the airplane was reported by the pilot.

Factual narrative

On July 6, 2001, at 1950 eastern daylight time, a Fleet Model I, NC8627, registered to a private owner, nosed over while landing on a grass strip at the Homestead General Aviation Airport in Homestead, Florida. The airplane was operated by the private pilot under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 and visual flight rules. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local flight. The pilot was not injured, and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The flight originated from Homestead General Aviation Airport, in Homestead, Florida, at 1940.

According to the pilot, during touchdown on the grass strip, the tailwheel-equipped airplane slowed rapidly, down to about 10 miles per hour in 200 feet of ground roll. The pilot stated the tail came up, the propeller struck the ground, and the airplane nosed over and slid 10 feet inverted.

The pilot did not report a mechanical problem with the airplane during the attempted landing.

Aircraft

Registration
NC8627
Reported as
Fleet BI-PLANE
Category
Airplane
Serial number
40
Airframe hours
1,045
Engine
Warner Scarab 50, 125 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Registered owner
John Bubel
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · May 18, 2001 · 15 hours before
Departed
X51 · Homestead, FL
Airport
X51 · Homestead General Aviation, runway 27U, 1,000 × 500 ft, grass/turf

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
48
Injuries
None
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
Last flight review
June 26, 2001
Seat
Rear
Flight hours
2,000 total · 50 in this make and model · 1,700 as pilot in command · 25 in the last 90 days · 15 in the last 30 days · 0 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
90° at 10 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
84 °F, dew point 73 °F
Altimeter
30.07 inHg
Observed at
MIA, 23 nm away