# NTSB ERA24LA253: Davis Lightning, N155LT, Jamestown, TN, June 8, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: June 8, 2024, 10:25 local (15:25 UTC) - Place: Jamestown, TN - Coordinates: 36.349738, -84.946824 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.3497&lon=-84.9468&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - 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): 194429 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA24LA253 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/194429/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194429 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA253 ## Probable cause The non-certificated pilot’s failure to maintain control of the airplane during landing, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and subsequent hard landing. ## 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: [Davis John S DAVIS LIGHTING, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=056217O), [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: [Davis John S DAVIS LIGHTING, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md?model=056217O), [All aircraft, 990 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md) - [Experience/qualifications: qualification/certification](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031010): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Pilot; cases with it: [Davis John S DAVIS LIGHTING, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031010/cases.md?model=056217O), [All aircraft, 280 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031010/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: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Davis John S DAVIS LIGHTING, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=056217O), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [Davis John S DAVIS LIGHTING, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=056217O), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The non-certificated pilot was landing the airplane following a local flight. The prevailing wind condition for the runway selected by the pilot for the landing included a quartering tailwind at 3 knots, with gusts to 9 knots. The pilot described that during the landing, the airplane floated down the runway, after which the airplane stalled and then contacted the runway hard. The airplane’s left wing and engine mounts were substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N155LT](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N155LT), registered now, S/N 14, built 2007 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: DAVIS Lightning (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Davis John S DAVIS LIGHTING](https://openairdocs.org/model/davis-john-s-davis-lighting) (registry code 056217O) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Jabiru 3300](https://openairdocs.org/engine/jabiru-3300) (registry code 34801, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 14 - Year built: 2007 - Airframe hours: 435 - Engines: JABIRU 3300 120 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, September 12, 2023, 8 hours before - Airport: 2A1, Jamestown Muni, runway 01, 3,498 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device, ADS-B, Electronic multifunction display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 70; injuries: none; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 42 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 220° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 30.02 inHg - Observed at: K8A3, 18 nm away - METAR: METAR K8A3 081530Z AUTO 22006KT 10SM CLR 23/14 A3002 RMK A01= ## 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 20240608007069A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240608007069A), Jun 8, 2024: Davis John S DAVIS LIGHTING, Jamestown, TN, Substantial damage. Subject stated that he was flying in the local area of 2A1, he had to return to land due to a urgent need to go to the bathroom, he then proceeded to a… ## Docket (9 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 2, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194429. 9.4 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17890857&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20updated%206120.1_ERA24LA253_Redacted-Rel.pdf - NTSB record of conversation (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 1 photo, 604 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17886138&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FINAL%20Record%20of%20Convo%20w%20Troyce%20A%20Stirkins%208%2015%202024%20v01_Redacted-Rel.pdf - FAA record of conversations (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 134 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17886583&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20Record%20of%20Convos-Rel.pdf - Witness statement (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17886563&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Witness%20Statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Weather reports and records (item 5, PDF, 3 pages, 113 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17886682&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WX%20Reports%20and%20Records-Rel.pdf - Federal aviation administration (FAA) automatic dependent surveillance a�� broadcast (ADS-B) tabular data (item 6, XLSX, 4.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17885848&FileExtension=xlsx&FileName=20240608_A0DDCE_552062130_ADSB-Rel.xlsx - Investigative photographs (item 7, PDF, 6 pages, 5 photos, 919 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17886802&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigative%20Photographs%20v01-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record - flight control continuity (item 8, PDF, 1 page, 66 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17887631&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memo%20For%20Record%20-%20Flight%20Control%20Inspection%20v01-Rel.pdf - Release of aircraft wreckage, NTSB form 6120.15 (item 9, PDF, 1 page, 787 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17886409&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Fully%20Exctd%20Wreckage%20Release%20Form_N155LT_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.