# NTSB CEN11CA147: Pegasus 503 Sport, N456KL, Cambridge, OH, January 5, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: January 5, 2011, 16:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: Cambridge, OH - Coordinates: 40.083057, -81.589164 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.0831&lon=-81.5892&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report May 26, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - NTSB case key (mKey): 78126 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN11CA147 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/78126/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78126 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11CA147 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from trees and terrain during the landing approach. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: descent/approach/glide path](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Pegasus 503 SPORT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md?model=05901S3), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md) - [Personnel issues](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02060000): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Pegasus 503 SPORT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02060000/cases.md?model=05901S3), [All aircraft, 137 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02060000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) (defining event); cases with it: [Pegasus 503 SPORT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=05901S3), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was returning from a local solo flight when the aircraft impacted trees and terrain about 200 feet short of the runway. The weight-shift-control, delta wing configured, light sport aircraft sustained substantial damage to the fuselage structure. The pilot stated that the approach was lower than normal and that he added full throttle in an attempt to recover, but was unsuccessful. The pilot commented that the aircraft had encountered some turbulence during the flight. He speculated that the aircraft may have encountered a downdraft on short final. The pilot reported that there were no failures or malfunctions associated with the aircraft. A postaccident examination did not reveal any anomalies consistent with a preimpact failure or malfunction. The pilot held a student pilot certificate and had received about 18 hours of instruction. However, he had not flown in the local area prior to the accident flight. The airport was located on the top of a hill; wind in the local area was from the southwest at 4 knots. ## Factual narrative The pilot was returning from a local solo flight when the aircraft impacted trees and terrain about 200 feet short of the runway. The weight-shift control, delta wing configured, light sport aircraft sustained substantial damage to the fuselage structure. The pilot stated that the approach was lower than normal. He noted that he added full throttle in an attempt to recover, but that was unsuccessful. The pilot commented that the aircraft had encountered some turbulence during the flight. He speculated that the aircraft may have encountered a downdraft on short final. The pilot reported that there were no failures or malfunctions associated with the aircraft. A post accident examination did not reveal any anomalies consistent with a pre-impact failure or malfunction. The pilot held a student pilot certificate and had received about 18 hours of instruction. However, he had not flown in the local area prior to the accident flight. The airport was located on the top of a hill. Winds in the local area were recorded as light; southwest at 4 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N456KL](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N456KL-2018-01-05), registration cancelled 2018-01-05, S/N 7591, built 2007 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PEGASUS 503 SPORT - Registry model: [Pegasus 503 SPORT](https://openairdocs.org/model/pegasus-503-sport) (registry code 05901S3) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 503 DCDI](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-503-dcdi) (registry code 55566, 2 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Ultralight - Serial number: 7591 - Airframe hours: 530 - Engines: ROTAX 503 DCDI 52 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental light sport (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, November 30, 2010 - Departed: 2OA6, Cambridge, OH - Destination: 2OA6, Cambridge, OH - Airport: 2OA6, Hilltop, runway 02, 2,090 × 52 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 50; injuries: minor; student; seat: front; flight hours: 20 total, 6 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 30 °F, dew point 10 °F - Altimeter: 29.87 inHg - Observed at: ZZV, 16 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 20110105000159A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110105000159A), Jan 5, 2011: Pegasus 503 SPORT, Cambridge, OH, Substantial damage. At about 1520 local on 01/05/11, N456KL departed Hilltop Airport for a flight in the local area. The flight duration was about 40 minutes. During approach to… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 4, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78126. 619 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 593 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40342484&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Conversation Record -- FAA Inspector (item 2, .PDF, 26 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40342496&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Conversation%20Record%20--%20FAA%20Inspector-Master.PDF 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.