# NTSB CEN11CA447: Arion Lightning LS-1, N125GD, Garden City, KS, July 3, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 2, 2011, 19:10 local (Jul 3, 2011, 00:10 UTC) - Place: Garden City, KS - Coordinates: 37.927501, -100.724166 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.9275&lon=-100.7242&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report October 17, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 80990 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN11CA447 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/80990/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=80990 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11CA447 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control while landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Arion LIGHTNING LS-1, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=060006O), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/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) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Windshear or thunderstorm](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/390); cases with it: [Arion LIGHTNING LS-1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/390/sequence.md?model=060006O), [All aircraft, 224 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/390/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Arion LIGHTNING LS-1, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=060006O), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Arion LIGHTNING LS-1, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=060006O), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot, he had performed one go-around because he believed his speed was too fast. During the second attempt to land, the airplane landed hard and departed the right side of the runway. The right main landing gear separated and the nose gear collapsed. A postaccident examination of the airframe revealed that the engine was partially separated from the fuselage and there was substantial damage to the right-wing spar box. The pilot did not report any preaccident mechanical anomalies or failures. ## Factual narrative According to the pilot, he had performed one go-around because he felt his speed was too fast. During the second attempt to land, the airplane landed hard and departed the right side of the runway. The right main landing gear separated and the nose gear collapsed. Examination of the airframe revealed that the engine was partially separated from the fuselage and there was substantial damage to the right wing spar box. The pilot did not report mechanical anomalies or failures 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: 47 - Engines: Jabiru 33A reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Special light-sport (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, December 1, 2010 - Departed: KGCK, Garden City, KS - Destination: KGCK, Garden City, KS - Airport: KGCK, Garden City Regional Airport, runway 17, 7,300 × 100 ft ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 69; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 28, 2007; seat: left; flight hours: 625 total, 17 in this make and model, 625 as pilot in command, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 12 knots, gusting 20 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 97 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 29.94 inHg - Observed at: KGCK ## 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 20110702013609A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110702013609A), Jul 2, 2011: Arion Aircraft LLC LIGHTNING LS-1, Garden City, KS, Substantial damage. The pilot was making practice takeoffs and landings, in winds of 18 knots, aligned with the runway. On his final landing, the pilot got slow and stalled the… ## 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 CEN11CA215](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11CA215), Mar 2, 2011: Arion Lightning (N125GD), Brownsville, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate airspeed on final approach, resulting in a loss of control and a hard landing. ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 30, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=80990. 540 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 540 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40351251&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.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.