- Date
- January 21, 2005, 11:00 local (16:00 UTC)
- Place
- Daytona Beach, FL
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N121HSLee Harold Swarthout Velocity Xlrg
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report March 30, 2005
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 20050121000489A
- Case key
- 60916
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The failure of the pilot-in-command to maintain directional control of the airplane during the landing roll resulting in the on-ground collision with a fence and a ditch.
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.
Analysis
The pilot reported that during the landing roll on runway 23, he applied brakes to slow but his left foot slipped off the brake while the right foot was still on the brake causing the airplane to veer right. He attempted to straighten out the plane by applying left rudder but was unable and the airplane traveled off the runway and collided with a fence and a ditch. He further stated at the time of the accident, the wind was from the south at about 5-10 knots, with wind gusts of 5-10 knots and light turbulence. No mechanical failure was reported by the pilot. The accident flight was the pilot's second flight test in the accident aircraft.
Factual narrative
On January 21, 2005, about 1100 eastern standard time, a Velocity XLRG, N121HS, registered to a private individual, experienced a loss of directional control during the landing roll and collided with a fence and ditch at Spruce Creek Airport, Daytona Beach, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR Part 91 personal, local, flight from Spruce Creek Airport. The airplane was substantially damaged and the commercial-rated pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The flight originated about 0930, from Spruce Creek Airport.
The pilot reported that during the landing roll on runway 23, he applied brakes to slow, but his left foot slipped off the brake while the right foot was still on the brake causing the airplane to veer right. He attempted to straighten out the plane by applying left rudder but was unable and the airplane traveled off the runway and collided with a fence and a ditch. He further stated at the time of the accident, the wind was from the south at about 5-10 knots, with wind gusts of 5-10 knots and light turbulence. No mechanical failure was reported by the pilot. The accident flight was the pilot's second flight test in the accident aircraft.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N121HS
- Reported as
- Lee Harold Swarthout Velocity Xlrg
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- 121
- Engine
- Lycoming IO-540 D4A5, 260 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Lee Harold Swarthout
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Departed
- 7FL6 · Daytona Beach, FL
- Destination
- 7FL6 · Daytona Beach, FL
- Airport
- 7FL6 · Spruce Creek Airport, runway 23, 4,000 × 176 ft
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
- 72
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Private, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Last flight review
- January 2, 2004
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 3,297 total · 2 in this make and model · 1 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 180° at 10 knots, gusting 10
- Visibility
- 30 statute miles
- Temperature
- 64 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.14 inHg
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.