# NTSB CHI98LA194: Leone Smith Mini Plane, N5281U, Northport, MI, June 9, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 8, 1998, 21:30 local (Jun 9, 1998, 01:30 UTC) - Place: Northport, MI - Coordinates: 45.130828, -85.60955 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.1308&lon=-85.6095&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report February 15, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 10909 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI98LA194 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/10909/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI98LA194 ## Probable cause the pilot's not maintaining airspeed, and his lack of total experience in this type of aircraft. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - lack of total experience in type of aircraft, pilot in command (cause) - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command - landing gear,main gear - collapsed ## Analysis This was the first flight in this airplane after repairs. The pilot said he had less than one hour total time in this make and model of airplane. He made several approaches to the runway; however, when he attempted to land the airplane landed hard. The main landing gear collapsed rupturing the internal fuselage fuel tank. ## Factual narrative On June 8, 1998, at 2130 eastern daylight time, an amateur built Leone Smith Mini Plane, N5281U, owned and operated by a private pilot, received substantial damage during a hard landing and post impact fire. The pilot sustained serious injuries. The accident occurred at the Woolsey Memorial Airport, near Northport, Michigan, when the airplane landed hard collapsing the main landing gear and rupturing the internal fuselage fuel tank. The accident occurred on runway 9 (3,663' x 140' dry/turf). A witness stated that this was the initial flight after repairs had been conducted from a previous landing accident. The personal 14 CFR part 91 flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan was on file. The local flight departed Kreegers private farm strip, near E. Leland Township, Michigan, about 2030. The pilot was conducting the first flight in this airplane after repairs. He said in his written statement that he departed the farm strip and made a number of practice approached; however did not land. He then flew the airplane to the Woolsey Memorial Airport where he said that he made approximately six approaches before attempting a landing on runway 9. He said that by this time the sun was low and there were long shadows on the ground. He said that the first one-third of runway 9 was well lit with the remaining two-thirds in the shadows. He said he attempted to land on the sunlit portion. He said that when he, "Eased the power too much... ," the airplane dropped to the ground. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5281U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5281U-2001-01-24), registration cancelled 2001-01-24, S/N 035 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Leone SMITH MINI PLANE (SMITH MINI) - Registry model: [Leone Giovanni T SMITH MINI PLANE](https://openairdocs.org/model/leone-giovanni-t-smith-mini-plane) (registry code 05625N3) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 035 - Airframe hours: 42 - Engines: Lycoming O-290 125 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Robert R. Martinson - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: NONE, E. LELAND TWP, MI - Destination: 5D5 - Airport: 5D5, Woolsey Memorial Airport, runway 9, 3,663 × 140 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 61; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: center; flight hours: 771 total, 1 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: 90° at 5 knots - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: TVC, 26 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 19980608012629A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980608012629A), Jun 8, 1998: Amtr SMITHMINIPLA, Northport, MI, Substantial damage. (.4)This was the first flight in this airplane after repairs. The pilot said he had less than one hour total time in this make and model of airplane. He made… 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.