# NTSB ERA11CA153: Otterback Nicholas J Lightning, N324AL, Crescent City, FL, January 30, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: January 30, 2011, 15:45 local (20:45 UTC) - Place: Crescent City, FL - Coordinates: 29.426944, -81.604164 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.4269&lon=-81.6042&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 8, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 78404 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA11CA153 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/78404/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78404 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11CA153 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate flare and failure to recover from a bounced landing which resulted in a runway excursion. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Otterback Nicholas J LIGHTNING, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=056256O), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Otterback Nicholas J LIGHTNING, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=056256O), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/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: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Otterback Nicholas J LIGHTNING, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=056256O), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Otterback Nicholas J LIGHTNING, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=056256O), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Otterback Nicholas J LIGHTNING, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=056256O), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot, on the first approach to land the airplane's speed was too fast and he elected to perform a go-around. On the second approach, the airspeed was too fast again and the airplane bounced twice upon landing. He applied full power in an attempt to abort the landing. During the takeoff, the left main landing gear separated from the airplane and it veered off the left side of the runway. The airplane impacted an embankment and a tree resulting in substantial damage to the left wing and fuselage. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no anomalies and the pilot reported no mechanical failures or malfunctions. ## Factual narrative According to the pilot, on the first approach to land, he was going too fast and performed a go-around. The pilot stated that on the second approach, the airspeed did not bleed off fast enough, and the airplane bounced twice upon landing. The pilot applied full power to take off, but the left main wheel separated from the airplane and it veered off the left side of the runway. The airplane impacted an embankment and a tree resulting in substantial damage to the left wing and fuselage. An examination of the airplane revealed no anomalies, and the pilot did not report any mechanical failures or malfunctions. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N324AL](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N324AL), registered now, S/N 59 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: OTTERBACK NICHOLAS J LIGHTNING - Registry model: [Otterback Nicholas J LIGHTNING](https://openairdocs.org/model/otterback-nicholas-j-lightning) (registry code 056256O) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Jabiru 3300](https://openairdocs.org/engine/jabiru-3300) (registry code 34801, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 59 - Airframe hours: 347 - Engines: JABIRU 3300 120 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Ezell Richard D - Registered owner: Ezell Richard D - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, August 13, 2010 - Departed: DCY, Decatur, AL - Destination: FD44, Crescent City, FL - Airport: FD44, Eagles Nest Aerodrome, runway 36, 3,200 × 100 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 62; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 4, 2009; seat: left; flight hours: 1,967 total, 140 in this make and model, 1,848 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 8 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 80° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 30.14 inHg - Observed at: XFL, 21 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 20110130002049A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110130002049A), Jan 30, 2011: Otterback N LIGHTNING, Crescent City, FL, Substantial damage. On January 30, 2011 at approximately 1545 EST, an arion Lightning, experimental (N324AL), serial # 59, landed hard on second attempt to land and ran off runway… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 2, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78404. 1.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 403 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40344963&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Pilot Statement (item 2, .PDF, 39 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40344964&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Maintenance Facility Statement (item 3, .PDF, 74 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40344965&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Maintenance%20Facility%20Statement-Master.PDF - Weather Reports: XFL METARs (item 4, .PDF, 26 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40344966&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%3A%20XFL%20METARs-Master.PDF - Accident Photographs (4) (item 5, .PDF, 708 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40344968&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photographs%20(4)-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.