# NTSB MIA85FA067: Lounsbery Taylor/COOT-A, N24GL, Punta Gorda, FL, December 27, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: December 27, 1984, 09:25 local (14:25 UTC)
- Place: Punta Gorda, FL
- Location: 26.8940° N, 82.0665° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Punta Gorda, FL, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.8940&lon=-82.0665&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 31221
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA85FA067
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/31221/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA85FA067

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - flare - misjudged, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - lack of total experience in kind of aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - design stress limits of aircraft - exceeded, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - judgment - poor, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, approach - vfr pattern - base leg/base to final
  - flight control,aileron - movement restricted (cause)
  - window,flight compartment window/windshield - open (contributing factor)
  - diverted attention, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Loss of control - in flight, approach - vfr pattern - base leg/base to final
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall/spin - uncontrolled, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE ACFT WAS LANDED HARD, ACCORDING TO WITNESSES, AFTER COMPLETION OF THE FIRST TAKEOFF AND FLT AROUND THE TRAFFIC PATTERN. THE PLT SHUT OFF THE ENG, EXITED THE ACFT & INSPECTED FOR DAMAGE. HE THEN RESTARTED THE ENG AND TOOK OFF AGAIN.THE PLT STATED AFTER THE ACCIDENT THAT THE ACFT HAD LIMITED AILERON CONTROL DURING THIS 2ND FLT. UPON LOOKING THE ACFT OVER FROM THE COCKPIT DURING FLT, THE PLT SAID HE NOTICED THE ANTI-GROUND LOOP RODS WERE BENT AFT WHICH LIMITED THE AILERON TRAVEL SPACE. THE PLT FURTHER STATED THAT HE MANAGED TO FLY THE PATTERN BUT UPON REACHING THE BASE LEG, THE CANOPY CAME OPEN. WHILE THE PLT ATTEMPTED TO CLOSE THE CANOPY, THE ACFT STALLED, SPUN & IMPACTED TREES/GROUND. NO FUEL WAS FOUND IN THE WRECKAGE AFTER THE ACCIDENT, HOWEVER, A LARGE RUPTURE WAS NOTED IN THE FUSELAGE FUEL TANK. THE LEFT WING CONTAINED A 3/8' METAL ROD PROTRUDING DOWNWARD THAT WAS BENT AFT AND WHICH SHOWED EVIDENCE OF HAVING SCRAPED AN ASPHALT SURFACE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N24GL (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: LOUNSBERY TAYLOR/COOT-A (TAYLOR/COO)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: GG-9
- Airframe hours: 2
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-CIC 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: George N. Lounsberry
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Departed: PGD, PUNTA GORDA, FL

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 59; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 560 total, 1 in this make and model, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 50° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: FMY, 43 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 19841227068289A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19841227068289A), Dec 27, 1984: Amtrta COOTAMPHIB1A, Punta Gorda, FL, Destroyed. 1St flight, hard landing. Inspected aircraft. Bent antiground loop rod. 2nd flight, spun in trying to close canopy.

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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