# NTSB CEN11CA215: Arion Lightning, N125GD, Brownsville, TX, March 2, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: March 2, 2011, 12:45 local (18:45 UTC) - Place: Brownsville, TX - Coordinates: 25.903888, -97.422225 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=25.9039&lon=-97.4222&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 8, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA San Antonio FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 78512 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN11CA215 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/78512/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78512 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11CA215 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate airspeed on final approach, resulting in a loss of control and a hard landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Arion LIGHTNING LS-1, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=060006O), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Arion LIGHTNING LS-1, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=060006O), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md) - [Action: lack of action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Arion LIGHTNING LS-1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md?model=060006O), [All aircraft, 792 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md) - [Training: recent instruct/training recvd](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031525): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Pilot; cases with it: [Arion LIGHTNING LS-1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031525/cases.md?model=060006O), [All aircraft, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031525/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Arion LIGHTNING LS-1, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=060006O), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Arion LIGHTNING LS-1, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=060006O), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [Arion LIGHTNING LS-1, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=060006O), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot, he allowed the airplane’s airspeed to decay on final approach. He noted that this resulted in a loss of control and a hard landing. The airplane sustained damage to both wing spars, the landing gear, and both ailerons during the landing. The pilot stated that there were no preimpact failures or malfunctions associated with the airplane. ## Factual narrative According to the pilot, he allowed the airplane’s airspeed to decay on final approach. He noted that this resulted in a loss of control and a hard landing. The airplane sustained damage to both wing spars, the landing gear, and both ailerons during the landing. The pilot stated that there were no failures or malfunctions associated with the airplane prior to the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N125GD](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N125GD), registered now, S/N 105, built 2010 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Arion Aircraft LLC Lightning (LS-1) - Registry model: [Arion LIGHTNING LS-1](https://openairdocs.org/model/arion-lightning-ls-1) (registry code 060006O) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Jabiru 3300](https://openairdocs.org/engine/jabiru-3300) (registry code 34801, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 105 - Airframe hours: 36 - Engines: Jabiru 3300 120 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Special light-sport (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, December 27, 2010, 35 hours before - Departed: BRO, Brownsville, TX - Destination: BRO, Brownsville, TX - Airport: BRO, Brownsville / S Padre Island, runway 13R, 7,399 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 69; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 8, 2007; seat: left; flight hours: 600 total, 13 in this make and model, 14 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 30.11 inHg - Observed at: KBRO ## 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 20110302002929A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110302002929A), Mar 2, 2011: Arion Aircr LIGHTNING L, Brownsville, TX, Substantial damage. During landing, the pilot lost control of aircraft. After several bounces the pilot landed the aircraft very hard causing substantial damage to right wing and… ## Other investigations on N125GD (1) 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. - [NTSB CEN11CA447](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11CA447), Jul 3, 2011: Arion Lightning LS-1 (N125GD), Garden City, KS, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control while landing. ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 2, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78512. 2.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40345987&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Pilot's Statement (item 2, .PDF, 162 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40345988&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%27s%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Airport Diagram (item 3, .PDF, 131 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40344901&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Airport%20Diagram-Master.PDF - Weather Summary (item 4, .PDF, 259 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40344916&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Summary-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.