# NTSB ERA11CA195: Brown Narcisse A Christen Eagle II, N109BX, Gainesville, FL, March 19, 2011

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: March 19, 2011, 09:32 local (13:32 UTC)
- Place: Gainesville, FL
- Coordinates: 29.687221, -82.269721 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.6872&lon=-82.2697&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern base: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report June 20, 2011
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 78594
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA11CA195
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/78594/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78594
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11CA195

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed while turning from base leg to final approach, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and collision with the ground.

## Findings

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

- [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Brown Narcisse A CHRISTEN EAGLE II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=05658UQ), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md)
- [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Brown Narcisse A CHRISTEN EAGLE II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=05658UQ), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/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 base: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) (defining event); cases with it: [Brown Narcisse A CHRISTEN EAGLE II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=05658UQ), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md)
- [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Brown Narcisse A CHRISTEN EAGLE II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05658UQ), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

According to tower air traffic controller statements, the pilot completed the right downwind leg of the traffic pattern, then flew a short base leg. As the airplane began turning on to the final approach, about 100 feet above the ground, the airplane yawed, rolled right, and nosed down into the ground. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the fuselage and wings. The pilot could not recall the events that transpired during the accident sequence. A subsequent examination of the wreckage performed by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector found no preexisting mechanical anomalies with the airplane.

## Factual narrative

According to tower controller statements, the airplane completed the right downwind leg of the traffic pattern, then flew a "short" base leg. As it began turning on to the final approach, about 100 feet above the ground, the airplane yawed, rolled right, and nosed down into the ground. Postflight examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the fuselage and wings. The pilot was seriously injured and could not recall the events that transpired during the accident sequence. A subsequent examination of the wreckage performed by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector found no preexisting mechanical anomalies with the airplane.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N109BX](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N109BX-2015-04-24), registration cancelled 2015-04-24, S/N 0245, built 1990 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BROWN NARCISSE A CHRISTEN EAGLE II
- Registry model: [Brown Narcisse A CHRISTEN EAGLE II](https://openairdocs.org/model/brown-narcisse-a-christen-eagle-ii) (registry code 05658UQ) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming AEIO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-aeio-360-series) (registry code 41522, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 0245
- Airframe hours: 424
- Engines: LYCOMING AEIO-360 SER 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Marshall Jon Cook
- Registered owner: Marshall Jon Cook
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, June 10, 2010
- Departed: KGNV, Gainesville, FL
- Destination: KGNV, Gainesville, FL
- Flight plan: Unknown
- Airport: KGNV, Gainesville Regional Airport, runway 25, 4,158 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 56; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; flight hours: 662 total, 126 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter: 30.23 inHg
- Observed at: GVN

## 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 20110319006089A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110319006089A), Mar 19, 2011: Brown Narcisse A CHRISTEN EAGLE II, Gainsville, FL, Substantial damage. Aircraft N109BX was cleared for landing on runway 25 at gainesville regional airport (kgnv). N109BX was observed by air traffic control on the base to final…

## Docket (6 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 4, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78594. 1.2 MB in all.

- Memorandum of Record - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 47 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40346988&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20of%20Record%20-%20Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF
- Memorandum of Record - FAA (item 2, .PDF, 89 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40346990&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20of%20Record%20-%20FAA-Master.PDF
- Witness Statement (item 3, .PDF, 201 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40346333&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statement-Redacted.PDF
- Controller Statements (item 4, .PDF, 422 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40346335&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Controller%20Statements-Redacted.PDF
- Weather Observations - GNV METARs (item 5, .PDF, 39 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40346336&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Observations%20-%20GNV%20METARs-Master.PDF
- Accident Photographs (item 6, .PDF, 3 photos, 376 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40346338&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photographs-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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