# NTSB CHI96LA289: Mrotek Minicab GY20, N263AM, Albion, IN, August 10, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 10, 1996, 11:39 local (16:39 UTC) - Place: Albion, IN - Coordinates: 41.389389, -85.410758 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.3894&lon=-85.4108&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report April 29, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 10355 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI96LA289 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/10355/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI96LA289 ## Probable cause the pilot's misjudgment of distance and altitude during the approach to land, and his failure to attain the proper touchdown point. Factors relating to the accident were: the uneven and uphill terrain conditions at the approach end of the airstrip. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Undershoot, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - distance/altitude - misjudged, pilot in command (cause) - proper touchdown point - not attained, pilot in command (cause) - Nose over, landing - roll - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor) - terrain condition - uphill (contributing factor) ## Analysis During a landing, the airplane touched down approximately 110 feet short of the approach end of runway 09. Terrain in the touchdown area was approximately 7 feet below that of the runway. The airplane continued onto the runway where it nosed over. The pilot had not landed on the airstrip for over two years. The airstrip owner had cleared a wooded area near the approach end of the runway. The pilot stated he knew the owner was doing this, and he thought the owner had also extended the runway length. The end of the runway was marked with white cloth tied around stakes. ## Factual narrative On August 10, 1996, at 1139 eastern standard time, a Mrotek Minicab GY-20, N263AM, operated by a commercial rated pilot collided with the terrain while landing to the east at the B & V Flying Ranch Airport, Albion, Indiana. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The airplane was substantially damaged and the pilot sustained serious injuries. The flight originated from Byran, Ohio, at approximately 1100 est. The pilot stated he had not flown into this airstrip for at least two years prior to the accident. He stated he knew the airstrip owner was planning on clearing some of the wooded area at the west end of the airstrip. The pilot stated he circled the airstrip at and altitude of 1,500 feet and that he "saw hill was still there." He stated it appeared to him that not only had some of the wooded area been cleared, but that the airstrip had been lengthened. The pilot reported he intended to "touchdown before top of hill to look at runway & grass." The airplane touched down approximately 110 feet prior to the beginning of the runway which was marked by two stakes which had white cloth tied to them. The airplane touched down in a "gully" type area. The elevation of this area was described as being approximately 7 feet lower than the runway. The airplane traveled up onto the runway where it nosed over and came to rest inverted on a westerly heading. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N263AM](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N263AM-1997-07-25), registration cancelled 1997-07-25, S/N 232A (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Mrotek MINICAB GY20 (MINICAB GY) - Registry model: [Mrotek Arnold A MINICAB GY-20](https://openairdocs.org/model/mrotek-arnold-a-minicab-gy-20) (registry code 056135A) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 232A - Airframe hours: 315 - Engines: Continental A-65 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: John A. Brewer - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, May 18, 1996, 14 hours before - Departed: BRYAN, OH - Destination: 98IN, IN - Airport: 98IN, B & V Flying Ranch, runway 9, 2,500 × 40 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 71; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: expired; seat: left; flight hours: 10,000 total, 259 in this make and model, 35 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 90° at 5 knots - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 86 °F ## 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 19960810022159A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960810022159A), Aug 10, 1996: Amtrsg MINICABHAWK, Albion, IN, Substantial damage. Impact short of runway on landing approach. No medical certificate. (-23) on August 10, 1996, at 1139 EST, a mrotek minicab model GY-20, N263AM, operated by… 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.