MIA03LA087

NTSB accident investigation · Pool Pool Jungster I · Fernandina Beac, FL · March 29, 2003

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
March 29, 2003, 13:00 local (18:00 UTC)
Place
Fernandina Beac, FL
Injuries
1 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N7135Pool Pool Jungster I
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report May 30, 2003
Report
Approved by Office Director
Parties
FAA FSDO
Case key
56728

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 pilot's failure to maintain control during the landing flare/touchdown while attempting a crosswind landing resulting in the left wing impacting the ground, and a collision with runway lights during the attempted recovery.

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 - in flightLanding - flare/touchdown
Aircraft control - not maintainedPilot in commandCause
Weather condition - crosswind
In flight collision with terrain/waterLanding - flare/touchdown
Terrain condition - ground
In flight collision with objectGo-around (vfr)
Object - runway light

Analysis

The pilot stated that the accident airplane is a single seat airplane, the only one of its kind, and he was training to make takeoffs and landings. He said it was his second flight in the airplane, and while attempting to make a landing with a crosswind from the left, the left wing dipped and the airplane veered left. While attempting to recover the undercarriage hit a runway light and the airplane pitched downward impacting the ground on its left wing and nose. Prior to the accident there had been no failure or malfunction to the airplane or any of its systems.

Factual narrative

On March 29, 2003, about 1300 eastern standard time, a Pool Jungster 1 experimental amateurbuilt airplane, N7135, registered to and operated by a private individual, as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, veered off the runway while landing at Fernandina Beach Municipal Airport, Fernandina Beach, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The private-rated pilot was not injured, and the airplane incurred substantial damage. The flight originated, the same day, about 1255.

The pilot stated that the accident airplane is a single seat airplane, the only one of its kind so instruction was not available, and he was training to make takeoffs and landings at the time of the accident. He said it was his second flight in the airplane, and while attempting to make a landing on runway 22 with a crosswind from the left, his left wing dipped, and the airplane veered left. As the airplane veered, the left wing contacted the runway, and while attempting to recover the undercarriage hit a runway light. He said the impact with the runway light caused the airplane to nose down, and it came to rest on its left wing and nose. Prior to the accident there had been no failure or malfunction to the airplane or any of its systems.

Aircraft

Registration
N7135
Reported as
Pool Pool Jungster I
Category
Airplane, amateur-built
Serial number
1
Airframe hours
251
Engine
Lycoming O-290G4, 125 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Registered owner
Robert H. Graham
Airworthiness certificate
Special, Experimental (Special)
Last inspection
Annual · February 18, 2003 · 2 hours before
Departed
55J · Fernandina Beac, FL
Airport
55J · Fernandina Beach Municipal, runway 22, 5,300 × 100 ft, asphalt

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
65
Injuries
None
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Last flight review
March 24, 2001
Seat
Single
Flight hours
912 total · 2 in this make and model · 875 as pilot in command · 6 in the last 90 days · 4 in the last 30 days · 0 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
0° at 0 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
20,000 ft broken
Temperature
79 °F, dew point 61 °F
Altimeter
29.96 inHg
Observed at
JAX, 20 nm away