# NTSB FTW96LA308: Dearinger Duce, N85JD, Corning, AR, July 16, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 16, 1996, 17:40 local (22:40 UTC) - Place: Corning, AR - Coordinates: 36.409851, -90.580795 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.4099&lon=-90.5808&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 18, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 19913 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW96LA308 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19913/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW96LA308 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to arrest his rate of descent and his improper recovery from a bounced landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - proper descent rate - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - flare - delayed, pilot in command - recovery from bounced landing - improper, pilot in command (cause) - Nose over, landing - roll ## Analysis The student pilot stated that the engine hesitated momentarily when he added power to arrest a high rate of descent that developed on final approach while landing on runway 36. The airplane 'fell from about 10 feet and landed hard.' The tailwheel equipped airplane bounced once and nosed over coming to a stop in the inverted position. The pilot added that the purpose of the flight was to have a mechanic at the airport check the carburetor on his engine. The pilot did not complete a pilot/operator report on the accident. ## Factual narrative On July 16, 1996, at 1740 central daylight time, a Dearinger Duce, N85JD, was substantially damaged while landing near Corning, Arkansas. The airplane, owned and operated by a private owner, was being operated under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The solo student pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local flight for which a flight plan was not filed. The personal flight originated at the Nick Wilson Field near Pocahantas, Arkansas, at approximately 1715. During a telephone interview with the investigator-in-charge, the pilot stated that the engine hesitated momentarily when he attempted to add power to arrest a high rate of descent that developed on final approach while landing on runway 36 at the Corning Municipal Airport. The pilot further stated that the airplane "fell from about 10 feet and landed hard." The tailwheel equipped airplane bounced once and nosed over, coming to a stop in the inverted position. The left wing spar and the vertical stabilizer sustained structural damage. When asked by the investigator-in-charge about the possibility that the winds might have been a factor during the landing, the pilot stated that the winds at the time of the accident were calm, and "did not play a role." The pilot added that the purpose of the flight was to have a mechanic at the Corning Airport check the carburetor on his engine. The high wing home-built airplane, manufactured by Bill Dearinger in 1983, was purchased by the student pilot in August 1985 from the second owner. The pilot did not forward to the Safety Board a pilot/operator report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2). ## Aircraft - Registration: [N85JD](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N85JD-2012-12-10), registration cancelled 2012-12-10, S/N BD475781, built 1983 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: DEARINGER DUCE - Registry model: [Dearinger Bill DUCE](https://openairdocs.org/model/dearinger-bill-duce) (registry code 056134A) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-290 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-290-series) (registry code 41506, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: BD475781 - Engines: Lycoming O-290 125 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Tracy K. Williams - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: M70, POCAHANTAS, AR - Destination: 4M9 - Airport: 4M9, Corning Municipal, runway 36, 4,300 × 60 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: center; flight hours: 105 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 99 °F ## 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 19960716018009A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960716018009A), Jul 16, 1996: Corning, AR, Substantial damage. Aircraft made a hard landing, bounced, flipped over and broke wing. 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.