# NTSB GAA18CA561: Apollo Fox, N791YE, Chateaugay, NY, July 19, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 19, 2018, 14:45 local (18:45 UTC) - Place: Chateaugay, NY - Coordinates: 44.9197, -74.079154 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.9197&lon=-74.0792&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Landing area overshoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 18, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 98325 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA18CA561 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/98325/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98325 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA561 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from trees during a go-around. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Apollo FOX, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=0600042), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Apollo FOX, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=0600042), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Apollo FOX, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md?model=0600042), [All aircraft, 933 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Landing area overshoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380) (defining event); cases with it: [Apollo FOX, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380/sequence.md?model=0600042), [All aircraft, 400 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR go-around: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900); cases with it: [Apollo FOX, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=0600042), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR go-around: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120); cases with it: [Apollo FOX, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md?model=0600042), [All aircraft, 1,074 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, while landing on a 1,300-ft-long private grass airstrip, the airplane floated and would not settle in the grass. Subsequently, he performed a go-around, but the airplane struck trees beyond the departure end of the runway and then impacted terrain. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and the rudder. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The automated weather observation system about 23 nautical miles from the accident site reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 290° at 5 knots. The pilot stated that the weather conditions reported at the departure airport about 18 miles to the east, about the time of the accident, were wind from 300° at 3 to 7 knots. The pilot landed to the east. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that, while landing on a 1300 ft private grass airstrip, the airplane floated. He performed a go-around, but the airplane struck the trees that were beyond the departure end of the runway and then impacted terrain. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and the rudder. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The automated weather observation system about 23 nautical miles from the accident site reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 290° at 5 knots. The pilot reported that the weather at the departure airport about 18 miles to the east, about the time of the accident was, wind 300° at 3 to 7 knots. The pilot landed to the east. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N791YE](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N791YE-2019-12-06), registration cancelled 2019-12-06, S/N 00005, built 2008 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: APOLLO AIRCRAFT INC Fox - Registry model: [Apollo FOX](https://openairdocs.org/model/apollo-fox) (registry code 0600042) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 912ULS series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912uls-series) (registry code 55572, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 00005 - Year built: 2008 - Airframe hours: 1068 - Engines: Rotax 912uls 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental light sport (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, May 18, 2018 - Departed: MAL, Malone, NY - Destination: Chateaugay, NY - Airport: runway East, 1,300 × 50 ft, grass/turf - Equipment: Auto-pilot, Electronic primary flight display, Airframe parachute ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 56; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 28, 2017; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 665 total, 13 in this make and model, 25 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 290° at 5 knots - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 50 °F - Observed at: CWIT, 23 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 20180719017389A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180719017389A), Jul 19, 2018: Apollo Aircraft Inc FOX, Chateaugay, NY, Substantial damage. 07/19/2018 At about 2:45PM the pilot was landing his aircraft on his private strip which is 1300 ft long and 50FT wide. He was landing on 27 and the wind was 3… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 12, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98325. 1.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 862 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40469308&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Accident Picture (item 2, .PDF, 1 photo, 252 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40469309&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Picture-Master.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.