# NTSB FTW94LA213: Derr TRI-Q-100, N500JD, Albuquerque, NM, June 27, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 27, 1994, 07:23 local (13:23 UTC) - Place: Albuquerque, NM - Coordinates: 35.059844, -106.620002 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.0598&lon=-106.6200&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report January 12, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 19097 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW94LA213 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19097/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW94LA213 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S IMPROPER RECOVERY FROM A BOUNCED LANDING AND HIS INABILITY TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. A FACTOR WAS THE HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - flare/touchdown - weather condition - high density altitude (contributing factor) - porpoise/pilot-induced oscillation - encountered, pilot in command - recovery from bounced landing - improper, pilot in command (cause) - aborted landing - attempted, pilot in command - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water collision with object, landing - aborted - object - sign ## Analysis THE AIRPLANE BOUNCED DURING THE LANDING FLARE AND PORPOISED FOR THREE CYCLES. THE PILOT ADDED FULL POWER TO INITIATE A GO-AROUND. CONTROL WAS LOST AND THE AIRPLANE DEPARTED THE RUNWAY, IMPACTED A RUNWAY MARKER, CARTWHEELED, AND CAME TO REST INVERTED. THE FUEL TANK RUPTURED AND THE PILOT SUSTAINED BURNS OVER 50% OF HIS BODY. DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS 7,700 FEET. THE PILOT STATED THAT THE SIZE AND DESIGN OF THE RUDDER WAS INADEQUATE TO COUNTERACT P-FACTOR DURING AN ABORTED LANDING. NO EVIDENCE OF PREVIOUS RUDDER DEFICIENCIES WERE FOUND DURING CONSULTATIONS WITH EAA REPRESENTATIVES. ## Factual narrative On June 27, 1994, at 0723 mountain daylight time, a Derr Tri-Q-100 homebuilt airplane, N500JD, was destroyed while landing at the Albuquerque International Airport (ABQ), near Albuquerque, New Mexico. The commercial pilot sustained serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight. According to Albuquerque Air Traffic Control Tower personnel, the airplane made what appeared to be a normal landing on Runway 03. The pilot stated that during the flare to land, the airplane bounced to a height of 10 to 15 feet above the runway, and porpoised for 3 cycles. The pilot also stated that he added full power to execute a "go-around." He added that the airplane "moved abruptly left off the runway, hit the 4,000 feet remaining sign, cartwheeled, and came to rest inverted." A post-impact fire destroyed the cockpit area of the airplane. The fuel tank, which is an integral part of the pilot's seat, ruptured along the seam, and the pilot suffered second degree burns on over 50% of his body. Density altitude was 7,700 feet. The airplane was issued a registration certificate on March 11, 1989, and an airworthiness certificate on October 20, 1992. The pilot stated that size and design of the rudder is inadequate to counteract the P-factor encountered during an aborted landing. See enclosed pilot's narrative attached to NTSB Form 6120.1/2 for other comments on design factors. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N500JD](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N500JD-1994-12-27), registration cancelled 1994-12-27, S/N 1 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: DERR TRI-Q-100 - Registry model: [Derr John S TRI-Q-100](https://openairdocs.org/model/derr-john-s-tri-q-100) (registry code 05616HY) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 1 - Airframe hours: 21 - Engines: ROTORWAY RW-100 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Derr, John S. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, April 22, 1994, 4 hours before - Airport: ABQ, Albuquerque International, runway 3, 9,000 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,729 total, 21 in this make and model, 1,590 as pilot in command, 5 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 290° at 4 knots - Visibility: 60 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: ABQ, 1 nm away ## 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 19940627020239A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940627020239A), Jun 27, 1994: Amtr TRIQ100, Albuquerque, NM, Destroyed. Bounced and porpoised on landing. Tried to go around veered off runway struck sign. Cartwheeled and burned. 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.