# NTSB IAD01LA087: Charles Lancair 320, N92SB, Charleston, NY, July 27, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 27, 2001, 17:33 local (21:33 UTC) - Place: Charleston, NY - Coordinates: 42.82722, -74.403892 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.8272&lon=-74.4039&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report May 13, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 52850 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD01LA087 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/52850/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD01LA087 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane while maneuvering, which resulted in a collision with trees. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, maneuvering - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - object - tree(s) ## Analysis While en route to his destination airport, the pilot diverted to a private airport owned by a friend of his. According to witnesses, the pilot performed several "flybys" at the airport. One witness stated that during the pilot's last pass, the airplane was "coming back down so steep and so fast I knew he was not going to make it." The airplane impacted trees short of the runway. The pilot's last memory of the flight was en route to his original destination airport. Examination of the airplane revealed no mechanical deficiencies. The pilot reported 1,000 hours of total flight time on his most recent FAA third-class medical issued on June 28, 2001. ## Factual narrative On July 27, 2001, about 1733 eastern daylight time, a homebuilt Lancair 320, N92SB, was substantially damaged when it collided with trees while maneuvering near the C4C Airport (3NY0), Charleston, New York. The certificated private pilot was seriously injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. During a telephone interview, the pilot said that he departed the Penn Yan Airport (PEO), Penn Yan, New York, destined for the Columbia County Airport (1B1), Hudson, New York. While en route to Hudson, the pilot diverted to the C4C Airport, which was owned by a friend. The pilot reported that his last memory of the accident flight was en route to Hudson. Several witnesses observed the airplane flying in the vicinity of the C4C Airport. In a written statement, one witness said: "On 7/27/01 at approximately 5:15 PM I was outside and heard the sound of a small plane. I saw the plane fly over the neighbor's private airport very low and very fast. He turned sharply and flew back over the airport. On the second pass, he climbed very steep and looked like he was coming back for a third time, but he was coming back down so steep and so fast I knew he was not going to be able to pull up. I lost sight of him in the tree tops and then heard a loud bang. I immediately ran in to call 911 and went to the scene." In a telephone interview, the owner of the C4C Airport stated that he heard the airplane flying overhead and went outside to watch it. He observed the airplane perform "a couple of flybys," and during the last pass he lost sight of the airplane behind trees at the far side of the runway. Several seconds later, he heard fire trucks heading toward the trees where he last saw the airplane. The owner stated that he realized the pilot was a friend of his, after he went to the accident site. He did not believe the pilot was attempting to land at the airport, because he had not been in contact with the owner and had never landed his airplane there before. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector performed an on-scene examination of the airplane. According to the inspector, the airplane collided with trees and separated into several sections. The wreckage was dispersed over an area of about 50-yards. The left wing, engine, and propeller were found separated from the main wreckage, which included the right wing and fuselage. The fuel tanks were examined and found to be ruptured; however, the inspector reported that vegetation around the airplane was wet with fuel, and an odor of fuel was present. Examination of the airplane revealed there were no mechanical deficiencies. The weather reported at Albany International Airport, Albany, New York, 26 miles away, at 1651, included winds from 010 degrees at 6 knots, clear skies, and 10 miles visibility. The pilot's most recent FAA third class medical certificate was issued on June 28, 2001. At that time, he reported 1,000 hours of total flight time. The pilot did not respond to two requests to submit a completed NTSB Form 6120.1/2, Pilot Operator Report. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N92SB](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N92SB-2017-04-04), registration cancelled 2017-04-04, S/N 347, built 1992 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Charles Lancair 320 - Registry model: [Bryan Charles LANCAIR 320](https://openairdocs.org/model/bryan-charles-lancair-320) (registry code 0561839) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 347 - Engines: Lycoming IO-320 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: David Newell Beede - Registered owner: John Eichar - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: PEO, Penn Yan, NY - Destination: 1B1, Hudson, NY - Airport: 3NY0, C4C Airport, runway 270, 1,400 × 50 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 58; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 1,000 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 10° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 30.22 inHg - Observed at: ALB, 26 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 20010727027639A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010727027639A), Jul 27, 2001: Amtr LANCAIR320, Charleston, NY, No damage. (-23) Per witness, pilot overflew a private airport two times, very low at a high rate of speed. On a third pass aircraft was in a dive, failed to pull out and… 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.