# NTSB ERA22LA332: Whitten Robinson Aventura II, N709CW, Meritt Island, FL, July 23, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: July 23, 2022, 18:54 local (22:54 UTC) - Place: Meritt Island, FL · Struck Rental Storage Facility Fence - Coordinates: 28.341611, -80.685472 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.3416&lon=-80.6855&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - 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): 105556 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA22LA332 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/105556/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105556 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA332 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the airplane during final approach to land, which resulted in an exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack, aerodynamic stall, and collision with a fence and terrain. ## 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: [Whitten Robinson AVENTURA II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=056286X), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: angle of attack](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Whitten Robinson AVENTURA II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md?model=056286X), [All aircraft, 990 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: fence/fence post](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Not specified; cases with it: [Whitten Robinson AVENTURA II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047/cases.md?model=056286X), [All aircraft, 313 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047/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 final: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) (defining event); cases with it: [Whitten Robinson AVENTURA II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=056286X), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot had accrued 954 total hours of flight experience but had only flown about 3.2 hours during four flights in the experimental amateur-built amphibious accident airplane. The pilot departed from a grass area next to a runway at the airport where he kept the airplane. After an uneventful local flight he returned to the airport to land. He performed go-arounds during the first two landing approaches due to being either too high or too fast. During the third landing attempt, the pilot thought the approach looked “OK” but then he noticed that he was too low, and too slow, so he increased engine power and applied slight up elevator. The pilot explained that the engine was on top of the wing (mounted in a pusher configuration) and normally when power was added the airplane would initially pitch down but would level off and then climb. The pilot described that this time though when he was too slow (about 45 knots), he added an extra amount of power, which pushed the nose down and made the airplane descend. He then “got scared,” “gave too much up elevator,” and believed that the airplane entered an aerodynamic stall. The airplane then struck the ground and a fence at an airspeed of about 55 knots. The pilot was seriously injured and postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the fuselage was substantially damaged. The pilot reported that during the accident flight, the flight controls and engine all operated normally. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N709CW](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N709CW-2023-07-01), registration cancelled 2023-07-01, S/N AA2A0143, built 2009 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: WHITTEN ROBINSON AVENTURA II - Registry model: [Whitten Robinson AVENTURA II](https://openairdocs.org/model/whitten-robinson-aventura-ii) (registry code 056286X) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 912ULS series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912uls-series) (registry code 55572, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: AA2A0143 - Year built: 2009 - Airframe hours: 101 - Engines: Rotax 912 ULS 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, June 23, 2022 - Departed: COI, Merritt Island, FL - Airport: COI, Merritt ISland, runway 11, 3,601 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Onboard weather, Satellite tracking device, ADS-B, Airframe parachute, Electronic flight bag or handheld device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 69; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review March 7, 2021; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 954 total, 3 in this make and model, 807 as pilot in command, 9 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 150° at 13 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 79 °F - Altimeter: 29.99 inHg - Observed at: KCOF, 8 nm away - METAR: METAR KCOF 072256Z AUTO 15013KT 10SM CLR 31/26 A2999 RMK AO2 SLP160 T03070264 FZRANO $= ## 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 20220723013029A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220723013029A), Jul 23, 2022: Whitten Robinson AVENTURA II, Merritt Island, FL, Substantial damage. On July 23, 2022 at approximately 18:54 local time, the pilot of command of [privacy data omitted], a fixed wing single engine experimental amateur built… ## 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=105556. 21.1 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 7.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14561937&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120%20(Signed)_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record - wreckage examination information (item 2, PDF, 6 pages, 157 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14561521&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20For%20Record%20-%20Wreckage%20Examination%20information-Rel.pdf - Photo array (item 3, PDF, 6 pages, 13.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14562029&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array_Redacted-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.