# NTSB ERA17LA306: Kerr Gerald Velocity SUV, N753GK, St. Petersburg, FL, September 1, 2017 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 1, 2017, 10:36 local (14:36 UTC) - Place: St. Petersburg, FL - Coordinates: 27, -82 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.0000&lon=-82.0000&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Landing area overshoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 8, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 95937 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA17LA306 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/95937/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95937 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA17LA306 ## Probable cause The pilot's misjudgment of the airplane’s speed and the distance remaining during landing and his improper decision to not abort the landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Kerr Gerald VELOCITY SUV, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=05614TT), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Kerr Gerald VELOCITY SUV, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05614TT), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: descent/approach/glide path](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Kerr Gerald VELOCITY SUV, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md?model=05614TT), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md) - [Terrain: water](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Kerr Gerald VELOCITY SUV, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021020/cases.md?model=05614TT), [All aircraft, 97 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900); cases with it: [Kerr Gerald VELOCITY SUV, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=05614TT), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Landing area overshoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380) (defining event); cases with it: [Kerr Gerald VELOCITY SUV, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380/sequence.md?model=05614TT), [All aircraft, 400 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Kerr Gerald VELOCITY SUV, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=05614TT), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis The private pilot of the experimental, amateur-built airplane stated that he began the approach high and made a steeper and faster approach to land than normal to clear cranes located near the end of the runway. He landed the airplane long and, instead of going around, continued with the landing. The airplane went off the runway and into the water, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical problems with the airplane and that the accident was caused by his poor judgment to continue with the landing. ## Factual narrative On September 1, 2017, about 1036 eastern daylight time, an experimental amateur-built Velocity SUV, N753GK, was substantially damaged while attempting to land at Albert Whitted Airport (SPG), St. Petersburg, Florida. The private pilot and the passenger were not injured. The airplane was registered to a private company and operated by the pilot as a 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. No flight plan was filed for the flight that departed the Sebastian Municipal Airport (X26), Sebastian, Florida, about 0930.The pilot stated that he was aware of cranes near the approach end of the runway 18 and made sure he was high enough to clear them. The approach to land was steeper and faster than normal. He landed the airplane long and in instead of going around, he continued with the landing. The airplane went off the runway and into Tampa Bay, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot said there were no mechanical problems with the airplane and that accident was caused by his "bad choices" and a "mistake in judgment" to continue with the landing. The pilot held a private pilot certificate with a rating for airplane single-engine land. His last Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) third-class medical was issued on December 5, 2011. The pilot said that he lost his logbook in the accident and reported a total of 525 to 600 flight hours. He built the airplane in 2002 and started flying it in 2003. He estimated he has flown the airplane about 40 hours per year since 2003. The pilot also said all the maintenance logbooks and paperwork for the airplane were lost in the accident. He did not know the exact date of the last inspection but recalled completing an "annual" in early 2017. Weather reported at the airport at 0953, was wind from 170° at 6 knots, visibility 10 miles, clear skies, temperature 31°C, dew point 24°C, and an altimeter setting of 30.03 inches of mercury. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N753GK](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N753GK-2019-01-14), registration cancelled 2019-01-14, S/N SUV119, built 2005 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: KERR GERALD VELOCITY SUV (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Kerr Gerald VELOCITY SUV](https://openairdocs.org/model/kerr-gerald-velocity-suv) (registry code 05614TT) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 SER A&C](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-ser-a-c) (registry code 41511, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: SUV119 - Year built: 2005 - Engines: LYCOMING IO360 SER A&C reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: X26, SEBASTIAN, FL - Destination: SPG, St. Petersburg, FL - Airport: SPG, Albert Whitted, runway 18, 2,864 × 150 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 78; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 600 total, 520 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 75 °F - Altimeter: 30.03 inHg - Observed at: SPG ## 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 20170901011429A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170901011429A), Sep 1, 2017: Kerr Gerald VELOCITY SUV, St. Petersburgh, FL, Substantial damage. The pilot stated that he was aware of 2X90 foot cranes near the approach end of runway 18 and made sure he was high enough to clear them. He said the approach… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 12, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95937. 2.0 MB in all. - Pilot's Statement (item 1, .PDF, 86 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40469277&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%27s%20Statement-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation - G. Kerr (Pilot) (item 2, .PDF, 68 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40469276&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20G.%20Kerr%20(Pilot)-Master.PDF - Photos (item 3, .PDF, 6 photos, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40469357&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photos-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.