MIA85LA114

NTSB accident investigation · Mitchell Harvey Condor III +2 · Lake Placid, FL · March 10, 1985

Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal report

Date: March 10, 1985, 13:30 local (18:30 UTC)
Place: Lake Placid, FL
Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured
Damage: Substantial damage
Phase of flight: Initial climb
Aircraft: N44816Mitchell Harvey Condor III +2
Weather: Visual (VMC) · Day
Status: Completed
Report: Approved by Office Director
FAA report: 19850310009729A
Case key: 31363

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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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.

In flight collision with objectTakeoff - initial climb

Object - tree(s)

In-flight planning/decision - poorPilot in commandCause

Refueling - misjudgedPilot in commandCause

Proper climb rate - not attainedPilot in commandCause

In flight collision with terrain/waterDescent - uncontrolled

Terrain condition - water,glassy

Analysis

The plt stated that on takeoff from lake persommon he was unable to climb more than 50 fpm due to downdrafts along the tree line on his right side & he collided with a 35 ft tree & crashed into a creek.

Aircraft

Registration: N44816
Reported as: Mitchell Harvey Condor III +2 (CONDOR III)
Category: Airplane, amateur-built
Serial number: 83-140-3-2
Airframe hours: 944
Engine: Kawasaki 440B, 40 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage: Substantial damage
Flight: Personal · Part 91
Registered owner: Lake Placid Ultralights
Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
Last inspection: Annual · August 8, 1984 · 401 hours before
Departed: Lake Persimmon, FL

N44816Registration cancelled Jun 11, 2013 · Harvey Mitchell B CONDOR III + 2S/N 83-140-3-2 · Built 1983 Airframe modelHarvey Mitchell B CONDOR III + 2 Engine modelKawasaki ALL MDLS A/BReciprocating

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: 37
Certificate: Commercial
Airplane ratings: Multi-engine land, Single-engine sea, Single-engine land
Medical: Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Flight hours: 2,000 total · 443 in this make and model · 20 in the last 90 days

Weather

Conditions: Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind: 330° at 5 knots
Visibility: 15 statute miles
Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken
Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 57 °F
Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Observed at: FMY, 50 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.

Accident 19850310009729AAmtr Condor · Lake Placid, FLStruck tree after takeoff from lake. Unable to climb more than 50 fpm due to downdrafts along tree line.Mar 10, 1985 · N44816 · Substantial damage

Other investigations on N44816 · 1

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

NTSB MIA84LA079Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportLake Placid, FLThe acft was damaged in a forced landing after the engine lost power. The plt reported that a parachute line contacted the engine on/off switch and shut off the engine.Feb 15, 1984 · Substantial damage