# NTSB ATL99LA071: Hoskins Craig Lightning BUG, N450CH, Crystal River, FL, April 14, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 14, 1999, 11:00 local (15:00 UTC) - Place: Crystal River, FL - Coordinates: 28.899015, -82.590255 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.8990&lon=-82.5903&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report June 21, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 46098 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL99LA071 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/46098/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL99LA071 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane, which resulted in an inadvertent stall. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, landing - aborted - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - grass - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command ## Analysis According to a witness, the airplane landed fast and hard on runway 9. Upon touchdown, the airplane bounced and stalled, colliding with the runway on the nose gear and one wing. The pilot stated that upon touchdown, the airplane ballooned up about 4 to 5 feet. To avoid damaging the nose gear, he elected to go-around. He applied full power and retracted the nose gear but did not retract the flaps. During the aborted landing the airplane drifted to the right. The right wing tip struck the ground and the airplane cartwheeled coming to rest inverted. Additionally, the pilot added that his assessment of the accident was that his 'focus on personal pilot proficiency was sub-standard.' And in retrospect, he should have spent more time doing approach stalls at high altitude and more touch and go landings. ## Factual narrative On April 14, 1999, at 1100 eastern daylight time, a Hoskins Craig, homebuilt Lightning Bug airplane, N450CH, collided with the runway while landing at the Crystal River Airport in Crystal River, 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 at the accident site, and no flight plan was filed for the cross-country flight. The pilot received serious injuries and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The airplane departed Enterprise, Alabama, at 0925. According to a witness, the airplane landed fast and hard on runway nine. Upon touchdown, the airplane bounced and stalled, colliding with the runway on the nose gear and one wing. The pilot stated that he was landing at the Crystal River Airport to refuel prior to flying to Lakeland, Florida, at about 1130. He said that his approach speed on short final was slightly high. Upon touchdown, the airplane ballooned up about four to five feet. To avoid damaging the nose gear, he elected to go-around. He applied full power and retracted the nose gear but did not retract the flaps. The airplane drifted to the right. The right wing tip struck the ground and the airplane cartwheeled coming to rest inverted. The pilot released his seatbelt and crawled clear of the aircraft. Additionally, the pilot added, that his assessment of the accident was that his "focus on personal pilot proficiency was sub-standard." And in retrospect, he should have spent more time doing approach stalls at high altitude and more touch and go landings. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N450CH](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N450CH-2000-05-08), registration cancelled 2000-05-08, S/N 005 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Hoskins Craig LIGHTNING BUG (LIGHTNING) - Registry model: [Hoskins Craig A LIGHTNING BUG](https://openairdocs.org/model/hoskins-craig-a-lightning-bug) (registry code 05625FQ) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 005 - Airframe hours: 77 - Engines: Unknown AMW-808 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Craig Hoskins - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, August 4, 1998, 35 hours before - Departed: EDN, ENTERPRISE, AL - Airport: X31, Crystal River Airport, runway 9, 4,297 × 60 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 144 total, 77 in this make and model, 82 as pilot in command, 13 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: PIE, 25 nm away ## 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 19990414003589A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990414003589A), Apr 14, 1999: Amtr LIGHTINGBUG, Crystal River, FL, Substantial damage. Acft bounced on landing, turned right with the nose high, stalled, and crashed, other circumstances are unknown.(.19) on April 14, 1999, at 1215 eastern… 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.