# NTSB DFW07CA033: Stits Flut-R-Bug SA6B, N3129, Camerson, TX, December 2, 2006 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: December 2, 2006, 11:30 local (17:30 UTC) - Place: Camerson, TX - Coordinates: 30.87, -96.9683333333333 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.8700&lon=-96.9683&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 26, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FSDO Houston, TX - NTSB case key (mKey): 64947 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DFW07CA033 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/64947/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW07CA033 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper landing flare and inadequate recovery from a bounced landing which resulted in a hard landing. A factor was the delayed remedial action by the flight instructor. ## Analysis With the eventual goal of earning a sport pilot certificate, an ultralight pilot and a 1,141-hour flight instructor planned to conduct a familiarization training flight in an experimental, tandem seat airplane. During the take-off roll, with the ultralight pilot occupying the front seat and operating the controls, the airplane "ballooned." The ultralight pilot reduced engine power and performed a normal landing. During the second take-off from Runway 16 (a 3,200-foot long by 50-foot wide asphalt runway), "the airplane ballooned more than before" and the pilot elected to reduce the engine power and land. The ultralight pilot stated that "the flare did not fully develop and [the airplane] landed harder than usual." During the landing, the right main landing gear and the nose landing gear collapsed. In the Recommendation section of the NTSB Form 6120.1, (How could this accident have been prevented ?), the ultralight pilot stated that the accident could have been prevented " with the judicious use of throttle in the flare, or if I had carried more airspeed to compensate for the possible loss of a gusting headwind." The winds at the time of the accident were reported as variable at 8 knots. ## Factual narrative With the eventual goal of earning a sport pilot certificate, an ultralight pilot and a 1,141-hour flight instructor planned to conduct a familiarization training flight in an experimental, tandem seat airplane. During the take-off roll, with the ultralight pilot occupying the front seat and operating the controls, the airplane "ballooned." The ultralight pilot reduced engine power and performed a normal landing. During the second take-off from Runway 16 (a 3,200-foot long by 50-foot wide asphalt runway), "the airplane ballooned more than before" and the pilot elected to reduce the engine power and land. The ultralight pilot stated that "the flare did not fully develop and [the airplane] landed harder than usual." During the landing, the right main landing gear and the nose landing gear collapsed. In the Recommendation section of the NTSB Form 6120.1, (How could this accident have been prevented ?), the ultralight pilot stated that the accident could have been prevented " with the judicious use of throttle in the flare, or if I had carried more airspeed to compensate for the possible loss of a gusting headwind." The winds at the time of the accident were reported as variable at 8 knots. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - flare - improper, dual student (cause) - recovery from bounced landing - inadequate, dual student (cause) - remedial action - delayed, pilot in command(cfi) (contributing factor) ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3129](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3129-2013-05-09), registration cancelled 2013-05-09, S/N 99583, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Stits Flut-R-Bug SA6B - Registry model: [Stits Flut-R-Bug SA6B](https://openairdocs.org/model/stits-flut-r-bug-sa6b) (registry code 865043T) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C90 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c90-series) (registry code 17009, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 99583 - Airframe hours: 414 - Engines: Continental A80 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, April 1, 2006 - Departed: Camerson, TX - Destination: Camerson, TX - Airport: T35, Cameron Muni Airpark, runway 16, 3,200 × 50 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 63; injuries: none; seat: front; flight hours: 2 total, 2 in this make and model - Flight instructor; age 64; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 1, 2006; seat: rear; flight hours: 1,141 total, 1 in this make and model, 1,091 as pilot in command, 38 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 8 knots, gusting 10 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 12,000 ft broken - Temperature: 45 °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 20061202030679A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20061202030679A), Dec 2, 2006: Amtr SA6B, Cameron, TX, Substantial damage. (-23) The two place tandem tricycle gear experimental airplane crashed during a second take-off abort on rwy 16 @ T35 airport, Cameron, Texas. Both pilots… ## Other investigations on N3129 (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 WPR09LA082](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09LA082), Jan 14, 2009: Stits Flut-R-Bug SA6B (N3129), Los Olivos, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: A loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's improper decision to depart from a road with a known unresolved engine problem. 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.