# NTSB ERA10CA336: Schooley Sonex, N363SX, Punta Gorda, FL, June 27, 2010

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: June 27, 2010, 13:30 local (17:30 UTC)
- Place: Punta Gorda, FL
- Coordinates: 26.918888, -81.990837 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.9189&lon=-81.9908&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 16, 2011
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: Orlando North Florida FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 76445
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA10CA336
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/76445/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76445
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10CA336

## Probable cause

The pilot's improper flare, resulting in a hard landing.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Schooley Frank W SONEX, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=05625IG), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Schooley Frank W SONEX, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=05625IG), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Schooley Frank W SONEX, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=05625IG), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot stated that he entered the traffic pattern for landing, completed all required checklist items, and made a visual approach to the grass area adjacent to the runway. He flared the airplane high and the airplane touched down hard. As a result of the hard landing, the left main landing gear separated and the airplane nosed over inverted. The pilot reported no preimpact anomalies with the airplane.

## Factual narrative

The pilot stated he entered the traffic pattern for landing, completed all required checklist items, and made a visual approach to the grass adjacent to the runway. He flared the airplane high, the airplane landed hard, separated the left main landing gear, and nosed over inverted. The airplane received structural damage to the right wing and vertical stabilizer. The pilot reported no anomalies with the airplane before the accident. Review of the pilot's logbook revealed he has 67.4 total flight hours of which 4.1 hours are in make and model.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N363SX](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N363SX), registered now, S/N 363, built 2009 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Schooley Sonex
- Registry model: [Schooley Frank W SONEX](https://openairdocs.org/model/schooley-frank-w-sonex) (registry code 05625IG) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Volkswagen CONVERSION](https://openairdocs.org/engine/volkswagen-conversion) (registry code 63501, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 363
- Airframe hours: 10
- Engines: Great Plains 2180 70 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Frank W. Scooley
- Registered owner: Frank W. Scooley
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental light sport (Special)
- Last inspection: Condition, March 10, 2009, 10 hours before
- Departed: PDD, Punta Gorda, FL
- Destination: PDD, Punta Gorda, FL
- Airport: PGD, Charlotte County Airport, runway 15, 5,688 × 150 ft

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 58; injuries: none; sport pilot; last flight review September 25, 2009; seat: left; flight hours: 67 total, 4 in this make and model, 4 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 180° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter: 29.96 inHg
- Observed at: PGD

## 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 20100627042619A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100627042619A), Jun 27, 2010: Schooley Fr SONEX, Punta Gorda, FL, Substantial damage. The pilot departed on a local flight without incident. As he entered the left traffic for runway 15 and made a visual approach to the grass runway he was using…

## Docket (8 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 8, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76445. 4.7 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 974 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40332083&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- FAA Inspector Statement Statement (item 2, .PDF, 93 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40332605&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statement%20Statement-Redacted.PDF
- Extract Aircraft Logbooks (item 3, .PDF, 140 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40332084&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Extract%20Aircraft%20Logbooks-Redacted.PDF
- Sheriff Incident Report (item 4, .PDF, 55 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40332147&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Sheriff%20Incident%20Report-Redacted.PDF
- Photo 1 Front View of airplane. Photo FAA (item 5, .PDF, 946 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40332219&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20Front%20View%20of%20airplane.%20Photo%20FAA-Master.PDF
- Photo 2 Right side view of airplane. Photo FAA (item 6, .PDF, 1.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40332220&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20Right%20side%20view%20of%20airplane.%20Photo%20FAA-Master.PDF
- Photo 3 Rear view of airplane. Photo FAA (item 7, .PDF, 724 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40332244&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203%20Rear%20view%20of%20airplane.%20Photo%20FAA-Master.PDF
- Photo 4 Left side view of airplane. Photo FAA (item 8, .PDF, 704 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40332246&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%204%20Left%20side%20view%20of%20airplane.%20Photo%20FAA-Master.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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