# NTSB MIA02LA129: Taylorcraft F21B, N4418F, Somerville, TN, July 6, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 6, 2002, 13:00 local (17:00 UTC) - Place: Somerville, TN - Coordinates: 35.205833, -89.394165 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.2058&lon=-89.3942&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report December 6, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 55172 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA02LA129 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55172/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55172 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA02LA129 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper landing flare resulting in a hard landing and damage to the airplane. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - flare - improper, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The pilot stated that on final approach to land he lowered the nose of the airplane to lose the excess altitude, but the airspeed increased, so in an attempt to reach the target airspeed he pulled back on the controls as the airplane neared the landing runway and stalled the airplane about 20 feet above the runway. He said that the airplane descended impacting the ground, and came to rest about 20 feet off the runway, incurring damage. Prior to the accident there had been no mechanical failure or malfunction with the airplane or its systems. ## Factual narrative On July 6, 2000, about 1300 eastern daylight time, a Taylorcraft F21B, N4418F, registered to and operated by a private owner, as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, crashed while the pilot was attempting to land at Fayette County Airport, Somerville, Tennessee. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The airplane sustained substantial damage, and the commercial-rated pilot received minor injuries. The flight originated in Alliance, Ohio, the same day, about 0900. The pilot stated that on final approach to land he adjusted the throttle control and reduced engine power, but realized that he was too high. He said he lowered the nose of the airplane to lose the excess altitude, but the airspeed increased, so in an attempt to reach the target airspeed he pulled back on the controls as the airplane neared the landing runway and stalled the airplane about 20 feet above the runway. He said that the airplane descended impacting the ground, and came to rest about 20 feet off the runway, incurring damage to both wing spars, the landing gear, and the propeller. Prior to the accident there had been no mechanical failure or malfunction with the airplane or its systems. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4418F](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4418F), registered now, S/N F1514 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Taylorcraft F21B - Registry model: [Taylorcraft F21B](https://openairdocs.org/model/taylorcraft-f21b) (registry code 8850909) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: F1514 - Airframe hours: 300 - Engines: Textron Lycoming O-235-L2C 118 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Gerald A. Graves - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 27, 2002, 6 hours before - Departed: 2D1, Alliance, OH - Destination: FYE, Somerville, TN - Airport: FYE, Fayette County, runway 36, 3,500 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 55; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, invalid medical for flight; last flight review September 1, 2001; seat: right; flight hours: 1,690 total, 400 in this make and model, 1,630 as pilot in command, 25 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 8 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 0° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 95 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 30.07 inHg - Observed at: MEM, 30 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 20020706019809A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020706019809A), Jul 6, 2002: Tcraft F21B, Somerville, TN, No damage. (-23) Aircraft stalled at 18 feet on approach to fye, crash landed on south end of taxiway, coming to a stop approximately 30 feet west of taxiway. Preliminary… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 22, 2002, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55172. 422 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 422 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40461209&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-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.