# NTSB ERA22LA293: Crawford James R MU-582 Drifter, N2628E, Seminole, FL, June 19, 2022

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: June 19, 2022, 12:00 local (16:00 UTC)
- Place: Seminole, FL · Water Landing
- Coordinates: 27.850341, -82.780558 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.8503&lon=-82.7806&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Dragged wing/rotor/float/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- 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): 105385
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA22LA293
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/105385/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105385
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA293

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the airplane during landing flare.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Crawford James R MU-582 DRIFTER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05903PR), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: lateral/bank control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Crawford James R MU-582 DRIFTER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/cases.md?model=05903PR), [All aircraft, 390 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/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: Dragged wing/rotor/float/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093) (defining event); cases with it: [Crawford James R MU-582 DRIFTER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093/sequence.md?model=05903PR), [All aircraft, 319 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093/sequence.md)

## Analysis

According to the pilot he was conducting some pleasure flying and sightseeing in a float-equipped airplane. He flew over a lake and decided to do a touch-and-go landing on the lake. He said while on final approach the wind shifted and the left wing “dropped.” The wing contacted the water and the airplane spun to the left. The right front float collided with the water and the airplane landed on the tail. The pilot taxied to the shore and noticed the damage to the horizontal stabilizer. An examination by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector confirmed substantial damage to the right horizontal stabilizer and rudder. The pilot reported that there was no pre-accident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2628E](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2628E), registered now, S/N 14752, built 2004 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CRAWFORD JAMES R MU-582 DRIFTER
- Registry model: [Crawford James R MU-582 DRIFTER](https://openairdocs.org/model/crawford-james-r-mu-582-drifter) (registry code 05903PR) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Rotax 582SER](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-582ser) (registry code 55556, 2 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 14752
- Year built: 2004
- Airframe hours: 15
- Engines: Yamaha RS Venture 120 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, May 17, 2022, 15 hours before
- Departed: Apollo Beach, FL
- Equipment: Handheld GPS

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 54; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 3,000 total, 200 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 250° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 75 °F
- Altimeter: 29.99 inHg
- Observed at: KPIE, 6 nm away
- METAR: KPIE 191553Z 25006KT 10SM SCT036 32/24 A2999 RMK AO2 SLP156 T03220244

## 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 20220619010719A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220619010719A), Jun 19, 2022: Crawford James R MU-582 DRIFTER, St Petersburg, FL, Substantial damage. While on approach to landing the pilot allowed the aircraft to get too slow, pilot reported the wind shifted and caused an excessive sink rate resulting in a…

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 24, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105385. 2.8 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14317279&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20LA293_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- FAA inspector's statement mfr (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 118 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14316390&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20MOR%20LA293-Rel.pdf
- Investigative photographs (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 588 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14317076&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigative%20Photos%20LA293-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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