- Date
- April 8, 2014, 17:20 local (21:20 UTC)
- Place
- Frostproof, FL
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N12369Moore Thomas O Zenith Stol CH701
- Defining event
- Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 5, 2014
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties
- FAA/FSDO
- FAA report
- 20140408005659A
- Case key
- 89033
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during a precautionary landing. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's delayed decision to divert due to deteriorating weather.
Findings · 6
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot reported that he obtained weather information via the Internet prior to departing on a cross-country flight. Additionally, during the flight, he monitored automated weather reports via radio. About 2 hours into the flight, when the airplane was 17 miles from the destination airport, the wind increased to 25 knots and rain began. The pilot performed a 180-degree turn; however, the rain and turbulence increased, along with a decrease in visibility and ceiling height. The pilot then performed a precautionary landing on a road. About 200 feet into the landing roll, the airplane veered left off the road and struck an orange tree, which separated the right wing. The pilot added that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions with the airplane and that he should have reversed course 20 minutes sooner.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that he obtained weather information via the Internet prior to departing on a cross-country flight. Additionally, during the flight, he monitored automated weather reports via radio. About 2 hours into the flight, when the airplane was 17 miles from the destination airport, the wind increased to 25 knots and rain began. The pilot performed a 180-degree turn; however, the rain and turbulence increased, along with a decrease in visibility and ceiling height. The pilot then performed a precautionary landing on a road. About 200 feet into the landing roll, the airplane veered left off the road and struck an orange tree, which separated the right wing. The pilot added that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions with the airplane and that he should have reversed course 20 minutes sooner.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N12369
- Reported as
- Moore Thomas O Zenith Stol CH701
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- 7-5893
- Built
- 2010
- Airframe hours
- 101
- Engine
- Rotax 912UL, 80 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Jeff Badgero
- Registered owner
- Hope Missions
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental light sport (Special)
- Last inspection
- Condition · December 20, 2013 · 45 hours before
- Departed
- X35 · Dunnellon, FL
- Destination
- SEF · Sebring, FL
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 57
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- September 26, 2012
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Flight hours
- 350 total · 61 in this make and model · 350 as pilot in command · 45 in the last 90 days · 45 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 260° at 13 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 66 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.79 inHg
- Observed at
- BOW, 15 nm away
Docket · 3
The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 29, 2014, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 5.5 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.