# NTSB CEN23LA427: Quad City Challenger, Indianola, MS, June 14, 2023

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: June 13, 2023, 22:35 local (Jun 14, 2023, 03:35 UTC)
- Place: Indianola, MS
- Coordinates: 33.484907, -90.678996 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.4849&lon=-90.6790&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Approach-VFR go-around: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 193477
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN23LA427
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/193477/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193477
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA427

## Probable cause

The non-certificated pilot’s loss of control during the night 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: [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Light condition: dark](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 448 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020/cases.md)
- [Experience/qualifications: qualification/certification](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031010): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 280 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031010/cases.md)
- [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing-aborted after touchdown: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md)
- [Approach-VFR go-around: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md)

## Analysis

According to the airport manager, the non-certificated pilot attempted to land the light sport airplane at night. The airplane was not equipped with a two-way radio to activate the airport’s pilot-controlled runway lights. The pilot’s first landing attempt resulted in a go-around. After the go-around, the pilot called and asked a friend to shine headlights from a vehicle to illuminate the runway. On the second landing attempt, the airplane landed hard, bounced, and the pilot attempted a go-around. During the go-around the airplane impacted a beanfield. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage. The pilot did not return the National Transportation Safety Board Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident Report Form 6120.1.

## Aircraft

- Registration: UNREG (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: QUAD CITY CHALLENGER (II)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: UNK
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Unknown
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: IDL, Indianola Muni, runway 18/36, 7,004 × 150 ft, concrete
- Equipment: Unknown

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 54

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night
- Wind: calm
- Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Altimeter: 29.81 inHg
- Observed at: KGLH, 15 nm away
- METAR: KGLH 140353Z 00000KT 10SM CLR 23/21 A2981 RMK AO2 SLP099 T02280211,M

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 1, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193477. 309 KB in all.

- Mor airport manager (item 1, PDF, 1 page, 66 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16558153&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR%20Airport%20Manager-Rel.pdf
- Memorandum for record a�� 6120.1 not received (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 62 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16563055&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR%206120%20Not%20Received%20CEN23LA427-Rel.pdf
- Investigation photographs (item 3, PDF, 3 pages, 181 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16572859&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array_Redacted-Rel.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.

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