# NTSB ERA21LA172: Phantom Aeronautics Phantom II, McBee, SC, April 4, 2021

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: April 4, 2021, 16:30 local (20:30 UTC)
- Place: McBee, SC · Crashed on Pilot's residential land

- Coordinates: 34.403251, -80.268531 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.4033&lon=-80.2685&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern downwind: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 102863
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA21LA172
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/102863/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102863
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA172

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain adequate clearance from trees while maneuvering in the traffic pattern.

## 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: [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/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 downwind: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot of the unregistered airplane took off from his private field and described that he was flying at treetop height as he began a turn to the downwind traffic pattern leg. During the turn, the airplane descended, struck trees, impacted the ground, and sustained substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. After the accident the pilot stated that he should have climbed to a higher altitude before initiating the turn and indicated that there were no pre-accident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: UNREG (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: Phantom Aeronautics Phantom II
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: None
- Engines: Rotax 503 50 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: None
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: PVT
- Equipment: None

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 67; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, unknown; last flight review January 8, 2000; seat: left; flight hours: 300 total, 300 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 250° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 27 °F
- Altimeter: 30.14 inHg
- Observed at: HVS, 8 nm away
- METAR: KHVS 042055Z AUTO 25007KT 10SM CLR 24/M03 A3014 RMK AO2

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 7, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102863. 8.2 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 7 pages, 7.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12691716&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=01-01%20NTSB%20form%206120_print_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Memorandum for record - information from FAA inspector (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 206 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12690619&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=01-04%20%20MFR%20-%20Information%20from%20FAA%20Inspector-Rel.pdf
- Investigative photographs (item 3, PDF, 4 pages, 4 photos, 191 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12692003&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=06-01-%20photo%20array_ERA21LA172-Rel.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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