# NTSB ERA09CA073: Extra Flugzeugbau EA 300/L, N505EX, Tampa, FL, November 28, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: November 28, 2008, 11:30 local (16:30 UTC) - Place: Tampa, FL - Coordinates: 27.909444, -82.442779 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.9094&lon=-82.4428&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report January 22, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 69510 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA09CA073 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/69510/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09CA073 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate visual lookout, which resulted in a collision with an object. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Extra Flugzeugbau EA 300/L, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=70218DG), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) (defining event); cases with it: [Extra Flugzeugbau EA 300/L, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=70218DG), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot stated that while on approach to final, and as he prepared to touchdown, he saw a sailboat that did not have its sail raised. Consequently, he did not see the sail mast. The right wing tip struck the mast and shattered. The pilot added power in an attempt to level out the airplane, but it collided with the ground. The pilot said that he did not observe any abnormalities with the airplane or the engine during his approach. Examination by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the airplane's right wing struck the sailboat approximately 8 feet below the top of the sail mast. Witnesses to the accident reported that the sailboat was operating approximately 50 yards from the seawall when the accident occurred. They said that the airplane attempted to curve around the sailboat but as the right wing dipped it hit the mast. ## Factual narrative The pilot of an Extra Flugzeugbau GMBH EA 300/L stated that while on approach to final, and as he prepared to touchdown, he saw a sailboat, which did not have its sail raised. Consequently, he did not see the sail mast. The right wing tip struck the mast and shattered. The pilot added power in an attempt to level out the airplane, but it collided with the ground. The pilot said that he did not observe any abnormalities with the airplane or the engine during his approach. Examination by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed that the airplane’s right wing struck the sailboat approximately 8 feet below the top of the sail mast. Witnesses to the accident reported that the sailboat was operating approximately 50 yards from the seawall when the accident occurred. They said that the airplane attempted to curve around the sailboat but as the right wing dipped it hit the mast. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N505EX](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N505EX-2014-08-26), registration cancelled 2014-08-26, S/N 1211, built 2005 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: EXTRA FLUGZEUGBAU GMBH EA 300/L - Registry model: [Extra Flugzeugbau EA 300/L](https://openairdocs.org/model/extra-flugzeugbau-ea-300-l) (registry code 70218DG) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming AEIO-540-L1B5](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-aeio-540-l1b5) (registry code 41792, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1211 - Airframe hours: 223 - Engines: LYCOMING AEIO-540-L1B5 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Tampa Aircraft Holding Inc. - Registered owner: Tampa Aircraft Holding Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Aerobatic; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 1, 2008, 43 hours before - Departed: TPF, Tampa, FL - Destination: TPF, Tampa, FL - Airport: TPF, Peter O Knight, runway 21, 3,405 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; injuries: minor; flight instructor, private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 17, 2007; seat: rear; flight hours: 4,688 total, 155 in this make and model, 4,685 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 50 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 30.11 inHg - Observed at: TPF ## 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 20081128856799A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20081128856799A), Nov 28, 2008: Rhnflu EA300L, Tampa, FL, Destroyed. (-23) On November 28, 2008 at approximately 1114 EDT and extra model ea 300/L, N505EX, registered to Tampa aircraft holdings inc. stuck the mast of a passing… 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.