# NTSB ERA10LA251: Interstate S1A, N34926, Lakeland, FL, May 1, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 1, 2010, 18:52 local (22:52 UTC) - Place: Lakeland, FL - Coordinates: 28.250278, -81.919998 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.2503&lon=-81.9200&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report June 13, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 75906 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA10LA251 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/75906/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75906 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10LA251 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from terrain for undetermined reasons. ## 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: [Interstate S-1A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=1850202), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md) - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Interstate S-1A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=1850202), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000) (defining event); cases with it: [Interstate S-1A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md?model=1850202), [All aircraft, 1,703 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md) - [Other: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900); cases with it: [Interstate S-1A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=1850202), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) ## Analysis After takeoff, the airplane climbed about 500 feet and turned to the left. It subsequently entered a nose-dive configuration and descended rapidly. As the airplane neared the ground, it appeared to assume a level attitude consistent with the pilot recovering from the nose dive. The airplane clipped a tree and landed hard in a field. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed three large propeller strikes along the ground. Flight control continuity was established to all flight control surfaces and examination of the engine and system components revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunctions. No conclusive physical evidence was found to determine the reason for the sudden loss of altitude and resultant hard landing. ## Factual narrative On May 1, 2010, about 1852 eastern daylight time, an Interstate S1A, N34926, registered to and operated by a private individual, collided with the ground shortly after takeoff from a private airstrip in the vicinity of Lakeland, Florida. The sport pilot sustained serious injuries, and the airplane was substantially damaged. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight operated under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 91. The flight was originating at the time of the accident. A witness located at the private airstrip observed the airplane climb to approximately 500 feet after takeoff. She reported that as the airplane was turning to the left, the nose of the airplane “dived”, and the airplane descended rapidly. She stated that as the airplane descended toward the ground, the pilot pulled up at the last few seconds, clipped a tree, and landed hard in a field. The airplane continued to travel forward through a fence and across a dirt road, where it nosed over and came to rest inverted. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the airplane impacted a grass field. Three large propeller strikes were observed along the ground scar. Flight control continuity was established to all flight control surfaces and flight control system components revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunction. Examination of the fuel system revealed an undetermined amount of fuel remained in the fuel tanks. No water or debris was found in the fuel system. Examination of the engine revealed valve train continuity, compression, and spark from the magneto leads. The examination of the engine and system components revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunctions. The NTSB investigator-in-charge did not receive NTSB Form 6120.1, Pilot/Operator Report from the pilot. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N34926](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N34926), registered now, S/N 121, built 1941 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: INTERSTATE S1A (UNDESIGNAT) - Registry model: [Interstate S-1A](https://openairdocs.org/model/interstate-s-1a) (registry code 1850202) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental A&C65 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c65-series) (registry code 17003, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 121 - Engines: Continental A65 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: Lakeland, FL - Destination: GIF, Winter Haven, FL ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; injuries: serious; sport pilot; medical: sport pilot, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 4 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 160° at 5 knots - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 68 °F - Altimeter: 29.92 inHg - Observed at: LAL ## 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 20100501033709A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100501033709A), May 1, 2010: Interstate S-1A, N. Lakeland, FL, Substantial damage. Aircraft hit its right wing on a tree went through a barb wire fence and impacted the ground. There was not any evidence that there was flight control or… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 8, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75906. 106 KB in all. - Witness Statement-Record of Conversation (item 1, .PDF, 49 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40332742&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statement-Record%20of%20Conversation-Master.PDF - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 2, .PDF, 9 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40332748&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Reports from Federal Agencies-FAA Record of Conversation LA251 (item 3, .PDF, 49 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40332751&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Reports%20from%20Federal%20Agencies-FAA%20Record%20of%20Conversation%20LA251-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. --- 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.