# NTSB LAX97LA310: Bingelis Falco F.8L, N84TX, Watsonville, CA, September 4, 1997

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 4, 1997, 14:00 local (21:00 UTC)
- Place: Watsonville, CA
- Coordinates: 36.949752, -121.720794 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.9498&lon=-121.7208&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 21, 1998
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 29892
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX97LA310
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29892/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX97LA310

## Probable cause

the pilot's misjudgment of distance and speed on final approach, leading to a landing undershoot.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Undershoot, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
  - distance/altitude - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, approach - vfr pattern - final approach

## Analysis

The aircraft landed short of the runway in winds the pilot described as light and variable. According to the pilot, while on a stabilized final approach, 'indicated airspeed 80,' the 'aircraft settled directly to the ground.'  He reported that the aircraft 'went flat down as though slammed in a subsiding air mass in a matter of seconds.'  Also, he reported that the application of engine power did not arrest the descent. At the nearest weather reporting point, 19 miles southeast, the surface wind was 12 knots, and there was no convective weather in the area.

## Factual narrative

On September 4, 1997, at 1400 hours Pacific daylight time, an experimental (amateur built) Bingelis Antoni Falco F.8L, N84TX, was substantially damaged when it landed short of runway 20 at the Watsonville, California, airport.  The certificated airline transport pilot and one passenger were not injured.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight.

According to the pilot, while on a stabilized final approach, "indicated airspeed 80," the "aircraft settled directly to the ground."  He reported that the aircraft "went flat down as though slammed in a subsiding air mass in a matter of seconds."  He reported that the wind was light and variable and that the application of engine power did not arrest the descent.

At Salinas, California, 19 miles southeast, the surface wind was from 310 degrees at 12 knots and there was no convective weather in the area.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N84TX](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N84TX-2002-01-07), registration cancelled 2002-01-07, S/N 506 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Bingelis FALCO F.8L
- Registry model: [Bingelis Antoni FALCO F.8L](https://openairdocs.org/model/bingelis-antoni-falco-f-8l) (registry code 0566060) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-320-series) (registry code 41509, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 506
- Engines: Lycoming IO-320-B1A 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Adrianne Graham
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, September 1, 1997, 1 hours before
- Departed: WVI
- Airport: WVI, Watsonville Municipal, runway 20, 4,501 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 69; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 8,500 total, 30 in this make and model, 30 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 310° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 35 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 59 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: SNS, 19 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 19970904025269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970904025269A), Sep 4, 1997: Aermer FALCOF8L, Watsonville, CA, Substantial damage. On September 4, 1997, at 1400 hours pacific daylight time, an experimental (amateur built) bingelis antoni falco f.8L, N84TX, was substantially damaged when it…

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.

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