# NTSB ERA21LA325: Silverlight Delta JET-II, N314SL, Mulberry, FL, August 10, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: August 10, 2021, 08:15 local (12:15 UTC) - Place: Mulberry, FL - Coordinates: 27.931049, -82.041565 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.9310&lon=-82.0416&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - 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 - NTSB case key (mKey): 103680 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA21LA325 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103680/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103680 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA325 ## Probable cause The pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a bounced landing and a subsequent loss of directional control. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Training: training with equipment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031530): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Pilot; cases with it: [Silverlight DELTA JET-II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031530/cases.md?model=06001AI), [All aircraft, 32 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031530/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Silverlight DELTA JET-II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=06001AI), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Silverlight DELTA JET-II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=06001AI), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Silverlight DELTA JET-II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=06001AI), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot, he was practicing touch and go landings. He made three uneventful landings, and on the fourth attempt, he was “a little too late” on the flare and bounced the airplane 2-3 times, lost control, and the airplane came to rest in a ditch off the side of the runway. The wing was substantially damaged during the accident sequence. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N314SL](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N314SL), registered now, S/N 0001, built 2014 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: SILVERLIGHT AVIATION LLC DELTA JET-II - Registry model: [Silverlight DELTA JET-II](https://openairdocs.org/model/silverlight-delta-jet-ii) (registry code 06001AI) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 912ULS series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912uls-series) (registry code 55572, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Weight-shift - Serial number: 0001 - Year built: 2014 - Airframe hours: 327.8 - Engines: Rotax 912 ULS 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Special light-sport (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, June 23, 2021 - Airport: X49, South Lakeland, runway 14, 2,412 × 100 ft, grass/turf - Equipment: Electronic multifunction display, Airframe parachute, ADS-B, Electronic primary flight display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 71; injuries: minor; sport pilot; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; medical: sport pilot; last flight review July 23, 2019; seat: front; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 400 total, 5 in this make and model, 250 as pilot in command, 4 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 110° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 79 °F - Altimeter: 30.15 inHg - Observed at: LAL, 4 nm away - METAR: KLAL 101150Z 11003KT 10SM SKC 26/26 A3015 ## 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 20210810014209A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210810014209A), Aug 10, 2021: Silverlight Aviation LLC DELTA JET-II, Mulberry, FL, Substantial damage. During performing 3rd touch and go, pilot states he was too late on the round out, causing the aicraft to bounced several times, lost control and ending in the… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 13, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103680. 7.7 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 2.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12639730&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6210_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� telephone interview, pilot (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 121 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12593676&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20Interview-Rel.pdf - Investigative photographs (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 4.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12594049&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigative%20Photo%27s-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. --- 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.