# NTSB ATL91LA076: David Lowe ULTRA-PUP, N71427, Waycross, GA, April 3, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: April 3, 1991, 10:00 local (15:00 UTC)
- Place: Waycross, GA
- Coordinates: 31.21009, -82.350509 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.2101&lon=-82.3505&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 5, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 8390
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL91LA076
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/8390/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL91LA076

## Probable cause

THE FAILURE OF THE AIRPLANE BATTERY, WHICH PROHIBITED THE COMPLETE EXTENSION OF THE LANDING GEAR, RESULTING IN A LANDING WITH THE NOSE GEAR RETRACTED.  A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE SOFT TERRAIN AT THE SELECTED LANDING AREA.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, landing - flare/touchdown
  - electrical system,battery - failure,total (cause)
  - landing gear,nose gear - disabled (cause)
- Nose over, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE COMMERCIAL PILOT WAS PREPARING TO LAND THE HOMEBUILT, AMPHIBIOUS AIRPLANE.  THE MAIN LANDING GEAR EXTENDED; HOWEVER, THE NOSE GEAR REMAINED UP.  AN UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPT WAS MADE TO RAISE THE MAIN GEAR.  THE PILOT THEN ELECTED TO LAND THE AIRPLANE ON THE GRASS SURFACE ADJACENT TO THE PAVED RUNWAY.  UPON TOUCHDOWN, THE FRONT FLOAT PODS DUG INTO THE SOFT SOIL, AND THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER.  THE OPERATOR REPORTED THAT THE BATTERY HAD FAILED, AND BATTERY POWER IS REQUIRED TO RAISE AND LOWER THE LANDING GEAR.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N71427](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N71427), registered now, S/N 005L-25, built 1990 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: DAVID LOWE ULTRA-PUP
- Registry model: [Lowe David ULTRA-PUP](https://openairdocs.org/model/lowe-david-ultra-pup) (registry code 05616U3) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: OO5L-25
- Airframe hours: 87
- Engines: UNKNOWN UNKNOWN 65 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Mosler Motors, Inc.
- Registered owner: Mosler Motors, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, July 23, 1990, 87 hours before
- Departed: DNL, AUGUSTA, GA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: AYS, Waycross

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 69; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 6,000 total, 62 in this make and model, 50 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 180° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: -0 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19910403012429A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910403012429A), Apr 3, 1991: Amtr ULTRAPUP, Waycross, GA, Substantial damage. Unable to extend nose gear on amphibious homebuilt. Nosed over on landing. Battery dead. Was needed to extend gear.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.