# NTSB ERA13CA345: Jim Braddock Just Aircraft Highla, N926JB, Limestone, TN, July 18, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 18, 2013, 16:35 local (20:35 UTC) - Place: Limestone, TN - Coordinates: 36.267223, -82.613609 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.2672&lon=-82.6136&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: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor - Status: Completed, report September 5, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 87644 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA13CA345 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/87644/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87644 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13CA345 ## Probable cause The pilot’s improper recovery from a bounced landing. ## 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 · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Jim Braddock JUST AIRCRAFT HIGHLA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=05632DD), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md) - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Jim Braddock JUST AIRCRAFT HIGHLA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=05632DD), [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. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Jim Braddock JUST AIRCRAFT HIGHLA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=05632DD), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Jim Braddock JUST AIRCRAFT HIGHLA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=05632DD), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Jim Braddock JUST AIRCRAFT HIGHLA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=05632DD), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was operating the experimental light-sport airplane from a private grass airstrip, and following a brief local flight, was returning for landing. The approach to the runway was “normal” and the prevailing wind was light and variable. During the landing flare, the airplane “settled hard” and bounced back into the air. The pilot responded by adding power and leveling the pitch attitude, but the airplane settled back onto the runway in a flat attitude. The nose landing gear collapsed on touchdown and the airplane then nosed over, resulting in substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer and wings. The pilot reported that there were no pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot was operating the experimental light-sport airplane from a private grass airstrip, and following a brief local flight, was returning for landing. The approach to the runway was “normal” and the prevailing winds were light and variable. During the landing flare, the airplane “settled hard” and bounced back into the air. The pilot responded by adding power and leveling the pitch attitude, but the airplane settled back onto the runway in a flat attitude. The nose landing gear collapsed on touchdown and the airplane then nosed over, resulting in substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer and wings. The pilot reported that there were no pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N926JB](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N926JB), registered now, S/N JA256-12-11, built 2013 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: JIM BRADDOCK JUST AIRCRAFT HIGHLA - Registry model: [Jim Braddock JUST AIRCRAFT HIGHLA](https://openairdocs.org/model/jim-braddock-just-aircraft-highla) (registry code 05632DD) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 912ULS series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912uls-series) (registry code 55572, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: JA256-12-11 - Airframe hours: 45 - Engines: Rotax 912ULS 100 hp reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental light sport (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, June 11, 2013, 45 hours before - Departed: NONE, Limestone, TN - Destination: NONE, Limestone, TN - Airport: NONE, None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 71; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: sport pilot; last flight review February 28, 2012; seat: left; flight hours: 877 total, 12 in this make and model, 742 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 30.12 inHg - Observed at: TRI, 16 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 20130718016269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130718016269A), Jul 18, 2013: Jim Braddock JUST AIRCRAFT HIGHLA, Limestone, TN, Substantial damage. On touchdown the aircraft hit hard and bounced up. The nose came down and the nose wheel hit the ground. The aircraft flipped on the its back. ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 21, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87644. 6.4 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40398841&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - FAA Inspector's Statement (item 2, .PDF, 211 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40398844&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%27s%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1 - Airplane from Left (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 3, .PDF, 2.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40398842&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20Airplane%20from%20Left%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF - Photo 2 - Damage to Vertical Stabilizer (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 4, .PDF, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40398843&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20-%20Damage%20to%20Vertical%20Stabilizer%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%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. --- 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.