# NTSB MIA94LA004: Ehlers Lancair 320, N320SE, Bay St. Louis, MS, October 10, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 10, 1993, 14:30 local (19:30 UTC) - Place: Bay St. Louis, MS - Coordinates: 30.270538, -89.480857 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.2705&lon=-89.4809&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report September 13, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 37446 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA94LA004 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/37446/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA94LA004 ## Probable cause THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED RESULTING IN AN IN FLIGHT LOSS OF CONTROL (STALL/SPIN) AND SUBSEQUENT IN FLIGHT COLLISION WITH TREES AND TERRAIN. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, landing - airspeed(vs) - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - stall/spin - inadvertent, pilot in command - In flight collision with object, descent - uncontrolled - object - tree(s) ## Analysis The private pilot was observed landing on runway 35. The airplane touched down left of center line, bounced, and touched down a second time in a left skid. The airplane became airborne reaching about 60 to 80 feet agl in a nose up attitude estimated at about 70 degrees. The left wing dropped, the airplane rolled left, the nose pitched down, and the airplane collided with trees and terrain. ## Factual narrative On October 10, 1993, at about 1430 central daylight time, a Ehlers, Lancair 320, N320SE, registered to Craig S. Ehlers, crashed on landing at Stennis International Airport, Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. The airplane was destroyed. The private pilot sustained serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The fight originated from Stennis International Airport about 5 minutes before the accident. A witness who observed the accident stated to the NTSB investigator-in-charge that the airplane had made one touch-and- go landing before to the accident. The witness observed the airplane on final approach to runway 35. The airplane touched down left of center line, bounced, and touched down a second time in a left skid. The airplane became airborne reaching about 60 to 80 feet agl in a nose-up attitude estimated at about 70 degrees. The left wing of the airplane was observed to drop, the airplane rolled left, the nose pitched down as if the airplane was in a stall, and the airplane collided with the trees and the terrain. Examination of the crash site by the FAA revealed no evidence to indicate any precrash mechanical failure or malfunction of the airframe or flight control system. In addition the FAA inspector stated in a written statement to the NTSB investigator-in-charge that, "There seemed to be no indication of a split flap situation or any type of preimpact failure." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N320SE](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N320SE-2013-06-04), registration cancelled 2013-06-04, S/N 620-320-365FB, built 1993 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: EHLERS LANCAIR 320 (LANCAIR 32) - Registry model: [Ehlers Craig S LANCAIR 320](https://openairdocs.org/model/ehlers-craig-s-lancair-320) (registry code 05618VQ) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 620365-320FB - Airframe hours: 15 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E2A 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Ehlers, Craig S. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, June 16, 1993, 15 hours before - Departed: 3RG - Destination: 3RG - Airport: 3R6, Stennis Int Airport, runway 35, 8,500 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 34; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 197 total, 11 in this make and model, 157 as pilot in command, 14 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 290° at 6 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: GPT, 20 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 19931010038459A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19931010038459A), Oct 10, 1993: Amtrnc 320LANCAIR, Bay St Louis, MS, Destroyed. Bounced came down in a skid. Climbed to 80 ft in nose high altitude. Stalled collided with trees and terrain. 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.