# NTSB MIA07CA078: Robert J. Goodyear Hummel Bird, N555X, Lakeland, FL, April 18, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: April 18, 2007, 10:20 local (14:20 UTC) - Place: Lakeland, FL - Coordinates: 29.9888888888889, -82.0186111111111 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.9889&lon=-82.0186&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report October 31, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 65695 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA07CA078 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/65695/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA07CA078 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed during a go-around. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, go-around (vfr) - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command - miscellaneous - incapacitation(loss of consciousness), pilot in command - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The pilot said that while turning final to land on runway 27, he was at an altitude of 300 ft. AGL, an airspeed of 65 MPH, and he was closing in on the aircraft that was ahead of him. At this point he said he reduced his airspeed to just below 60 MPH, and when he slowed down he noticed that the aircraft ahead of him started to increase altitude. He was still closing on that aircraft and decided to go around on the inside. He made a hard bank to the left, and was at an altitude of 195 feet AGL, when his aircraft stalled. He said he made corrections in an attempt to recover, and his aircraft abruptly turned right, causing his head to strike the canopy, and he lost consciousness. The pilot said that prior to the accident there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions to his aircraft or any of its systems. ## Factual narrative The pilot stated that he had completed several laps around the ultralight traffic pattern at Lakeland Linder Airport, when he decided to land. He entered left traffic, and while on left downwind for a landing on the ultralight runway 27, at and altitude of 400 feet AGL, he noticed another aircraft about 1,500 feet ahead of him and at a slightly lower altitude. He further stated that while turning to left base, he noticed that his airspeed was 70 mph, his altitude was 400 feet, and the airplane in front of him had slowed down considerably. When turning final, he was at an altitude of 300 ft. AGL, his airspeed was 65 MPH, and he was closing on the aircraft that was ahead him. At this point the pilot said he reduced his airspeed to just below 60 MPH. When he slowed down he noticed that the aircraft ahead of him started to increase altitude, and he was still closing on that aircraft, so the pilot said he decided to go around on the inside. He made a pretty hard bank to the left, felt the left crosswind get under his wing. His airspeed was just below 55 MPH, and he was at an altitude of 195 feet AGL, when his aircraft stalled. The pilot that as he made corrections in an attempt to recover, his aircraft abruptly turned right, causing his head to strike the canopy, and he lost consciousness. According to the pilot, that was the last thing he remembered until he awakened in the hospital the next day. The pilot said that prior to the accident there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions to his aircraft or any of its systems. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N555X](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N555X), registered now, S/N HB-3460, built 2005 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Robert J. Goodyear Hummel Bird - Registry model: [Goodyear Robert J HUMMEL BIRD](https://openairdocs.org/model/goodyear-robert-j-hummel-bird) (registry code 05619NU) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax SEE BOMBADIER](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-see-bombadier) (registry code 55555, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: HB-3460 - Airframe hours: 125 - Engines: Volkswagen Ae567997 37 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Robert J. Goodyear - Registered owner: Robert J. Goodyear - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, February 1, 2007 - Departed: LAL, Lakeland, FL - Destination: LAL - Airport: LAL, Lakeland Linder Regional ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3; last flight review March 1, 2006; seat: single; flight hours: 269 total, 129 in this make and model, 234 as pilot in command, 23 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 7 knots - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 29.79 inHg - Observed at: LAL ## 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 20070418008989A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070418008989A), Apr 18, 2007: Amtr HUMMELBIRD, Lakeland, FL, Substantial damage. (-23) On Thursday April 19, 2007 at approximately 1050 EDT, a "hummel bird" experimental amateur-built single-engine airplane crashed into a corporate parking… 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.