ATL02LA038

A flight of two airplanes departed Sandy Creek Airport, enroute to Florala Airport in Florala, Alabama. The pilot reported that he lost radio contact with the second airplane minutes into the flight. He decided to land in a field that he assumed was an airport. During the landing roll the airplane nosed over. The pilot did not report a mechanical problems with the airplane. The pilot reported that after becoming lost he elected to land.

On January 12, 2002, at 1300 central standard time, a H.S. Mosley Cuby Sport, experimental airplane, N202FL, registered to EAA CU 202, collided with the ground during an attempted precautionary landing to a field near Panama City, Florida. The personal flight was operated by the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91, with no flight plan filed. The nearest weather reporting facility to the accident reported visual meteorological conditions. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The private pilot received minor injuries. The flight departed Sandy Creek Airport in Panama City, Florida, enroute to Florala, Alabama, at 1145 central standard time.

According to the pilot, he took off on a formation flight to Florala, Alabama. During the flight he lost communication with the second airplane and subsequently became disoriented. The pilot decided to land the airplane in a field that he assumed was an air strip. He stated that the airplane did not slow down as expected. The pilot also reported that he did not use the toe brakes during the landing roll to stop the airplane. During landing rollout, the airplane collided with the rough and uneven terrain and subsequently nosed over.

Examination of the wreckage revealed that the left wing sustained ground damage. The main wing spar was damaged from the wing tip to the outboard aileron hinge point. Additional damage was noted to the entry door, rudder and right upper fuselage area adjacent to the windshield. One propeller blade was bent and the windshield was broken. At the crash site, approximately five gallons of fuel leaked from the fuel tank. No mechanical problems with the airplane were reported by the pilot.

When asked what would have prevented this accident, the pilot replied, better knowledge of the surrounding flying area, and better preflight planning for enroute flight.