# NTSB MIA94LA146: Mid State Ultra Light Challenger II, Islamorada, FL, May 21, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 21, 1994, 16:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: Islamorada, FL - Coordinates: 24.920789, -80.630653 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=24.9208&lon=-80.6307&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 18, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 37549 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA94LA146 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/37549/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA94LA146 ## Probable cause The pilot-in-command's failure to maintain airspeed (VS) while landing in turbulent air resulting in an in-flight loss of control (inadvertent stall), and subsequent in-flight collision with terrain. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, landing - weather condition - turbulence (contributing factor) - airspeed(vs) - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - water ## Analysis THE PILOT STATED HE WAS AT 1,200 FEET AGL FLYING TOWARDS THE COASTLINE FROM THE EAST, AND HE ENCOUNTERED TURBULENT AIR CONDITIONS OVER THE EDGE OF THE LAND MASS. THE AIRPLANE ROLLED TO THE LEFT AND THE NOSE PITCHED DOWN. HE PUSHED THE CONTROL STICK FORWARD, AND APPLIED RIGHT AILERON AND RUDDER. HE REGAINED CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE AT ABOUT 600 FEET AND CIRCLED BACK FOR LANDING. WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH FOR LANDING AT ABOUT 75 TO 150 FEET AGL OVER THE SAME LAND MASS, THE AIRPLANE ROLLED TO THE LEFT AND THE NOSE PITCHED DOWN. HE ATTEMPTED THE SAME RECOVERY PROCEDURE AS BEFORE WITHOUT SUCCESS. THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH THE WATER IN A NOSE-DOWN ATTITUDE. HE STATED HE COULD NOT REMEMBER WHAT HIS AIRSPEED WAS BEFORE THE AIRPLANE ROLLED TO THE LEFT, AND THAT HE HAD NOT DETERMINED THE NEW STALL SPEED FOR THE AIRPLANE AFTER THE INSTALLATION OF THE FLOAT KIT. HE FURTHER STATED THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF A PRECRASH MECHANICAL FAILURE OF THE AIRFRAME, FLIGHT CONTROLS, ENGINE ASSEMBLY OR ACCESSORIES. ## Factual narrative On May 21, 1994, about 1600 eastern standard time, an unregistered experimental airplane, Challenger II, crashed while landing in Florida Bay, in the vicinity of Islamorada, Florida. The experimental airplane was operating as a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The uncertificated pilot and passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated from Holiday Isle, Florida, about 20 minutes before the accident. The pilot stated he was at 1,200 feet agl flying towards the coastline from the east, when he encountered turbulent air conditions over the edge of the land mass. The airplane rolled to the left, and the nose pitched down. He pushed the control stick forward, and applied right aileron and rudder. He regained control of the airplane at about 600 feet and circled back for landing. While on final approach for landing at about 75 to 150 feet agl over the same land mass, the airplane rolled to the left and the nose pitched down. He attempted the same recovery procedure as before which was uneventful. The airplane collided with the water in a nose-down attitude. He stated he could not remember what his airspeed was before the airplane rolled to the left, and that he had not determined the new stall speed for the airplane after the installation of the float kit. He further stated there was no evidence of a precrash mechanical failure of the airframe, flight controls, engine assembly or accessories. ## Aircraft - Registration: UNREG (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: MID STATE ULTRA LIGHT CHALLENGER II (CHALLENGER) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 0292-80803 - Airframe hours: 72 - Engines: HIRTH 2703-2C 55 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Wightman, Charles E. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, May 21, 1994, 2 hours before - Departed: NONE, HOLIDAY ISLE, FL ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 30; medical: unknown, unknown; seat: front; flight hours: 30 total, 30 in this make and model, 30 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 350° at 6 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: HST, 20 nm away 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.