FTW99LA142

NTSB accident investigation · Extra Flugzeugbau EA 300/L · Edna, TX · May 15, 1999

Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
May 15, 1999, 14:00 local (19:00 UTC)
Place
Edna, TX
Injuries
1 minor
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N91MSExtra Flugzeugbau EA 300/L
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report November 2, 2000
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
19990515005259A
Case key
46356

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

The inadvertent stall by the pilot during a go-around. A factor was the pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll.

Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

Loss of control - on ground/waterLanding - roll
Directional control - not maintainedPilot in commandFactor
Loss of control - in flightGo-around (vfr)
Stall - inadvertentPilot in commandCause
In flight collision with terrain/waterDescent - uncontrolled

Analysis

The airplane stalled and impacted the ground during a go-around. According to the operator and the pilot, the pilot performed maneuvers during an aerobatic competition, and upon completion of the maneuvers, he landed the airplane on runway 14. The pilot stated that during the 'roll out [his] right foot slipped off of the rudder pedal and [he] lost directional control [of the airplane].' Witnesses reported that the airplane initially 'touched down and bounced,' and then drifted to the left of the runway centerline. The pilot then 'added power,' and the airplane was observed in a 'nose high attitude.' The airplane attained a height 20 feet agl, and the 'left wing dipped down.' Subsequently, the airplane impacted the ground and came to rest in a field.

Factual narrative

On May 15, 1999, at 1400 central daylight time, an Extra Flugzeugbau GMBH EA 300/L experimental airplane, N91MS, was substantially damaged during a go-around at the Jackson County Airport near Edna, Texas. The airplane was registered to and operated by Air Bonanza, Inc., of Austin, Texas. The airline transport rated pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 aerobatic flight and a flight plan was not filed. The local flight originated from the Jackson County Airport at 1345.

The 10,663-hour pilot was participating in an aerobatic competition. According to the operator and the pilot, the airplane departed from runway 26, and the pilot performed a series of aerobatic maneuvers. Upon completion of the maneuvers, the pilot landed the airplane on runway 14. The pilot stated that during the "roll out [his] right foot slipped off of the rudder pedal and [he] lost directional control [of the airplane]." The operator added that the pilot "appeared to have lost directional control approximately 1/3 of the way down the runway."

Witnesses, who were spectators and judges of the competition, reported that the airplane initially "touched down and bounced," and then drifted to the left of the runway centerline. The pilot then "added power," and the airplane was observed in a "nose high attitude." The airplane attained an altitude of approximately 20 feet agl, and the "left wing dipped down." Subsequently, the left wing contacted the ground, and the airplane began to cartwheeel. The engine separated from the airframe, and the airplane came to a stop upright in a milo field.

At 1453, the weather observation facility at the Victoria Regional Airport, Victoria, Texas, (located 20 miles southwest of the accident site) reported the following conditions: clear skies, visibility 10 miles, and wind from 160 degrees at 15 knots gusting to 19 knots.

The pilot stated that both wings, including both wing spars, sustained structural damage. He added that the vertical stabilizer and horizontal stabilizer were also structurally damaged.

Aircraft

Registration
N91MS
Reported as
Extra Flugzeugbau EA 300/L
Category
Airplane
Serial number
075
Airframe hours
96
Engine
Lycoming IO-540-L1B5, 300 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Part 91
Registered owner
Air Bonanza Inc.
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Aerobatic
Last inspection
Annual · September 11, 1998 · 96 hours before
Departed
NONE
Airport
26R · Jackson County, runway 14, 3,393 × 70 ft, asphalt

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
53
Certificate
Airline transport
Airplane ratings
Multi-engine land, Single-engine sea, Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
Seat
Rear
Flight hours
10,663 total · 80 in this make and model · 10,427 as pilot in command · 125 in the last 90 days · 33 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
160° at 15 knots, gusting 19
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
90 °F, dew point 73 °F
Altimeter
29.00 inHg
Observed at
VCT, 20 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.