- Date
- October 25, 1996, 11:30 local (15:30 UTC)
- Place
- Kissimmee, FL
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N61FDSiai-Marchetti F206C
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report February 2, 1998
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19961025041679A
- Case key
- 38191
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
the pilot misjudged the flare resulting in a hard landing.
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.
Analysis
The pilot in command said that the flight approached the field from the west, with the intent to land on runway 15. He said, '...the winds were variable, visibility was reduced due to haze and the sky was clear of clouds.' He further stated that as he set up for the approach, 'the haze was still present and our visibility was aggravated by the sun angle.' On short final the flight descended below the tree line, and a 'sink rate developed before power could be increased.' The pilot stated that he had to initiate a go-around because of a high sink rate and premature touchdown on the threshold of the prepared runway surface. He made a low pass over the airport, and received visual conformation that the landing gear were down from the airport manager. He then made a second approach, and the airplane veered to the left after touchdown. The pilot's attorney notified the Safety Board of the damages to the airplane on December 19, 1996.
Factual narrative
On October 25, 1996, about 1130 eastern daylight time, a Siai Marchetti F206C, N61FD, registered to a private owner was substantially damage during a landing, near Kissimmee, Florida. The airline transport rated pilot, and a commercial pilot were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed in the vicinity, and no flight plan had been filed. The local business flight was being conducted in accordance with title 14 CFR Part 91.
According to the pilot, as Chief Pilot of Fighter Pilots USA, he was to fly with another pilot on a refresher ride. He said he was acting as pilot-in-command (PIC), and he briefed the mission to the other pilot, to included air work maneuvers.
The PIC said that the flight approached the field from the west, with the intent to land on runway 15. He said, "...the winds were variable, visibility was reduced due to haze and the sky was clear of clouds." He further stated that as he set up for the approach, "the haze was still present and our visibility was aggravated by the sun angle." On short final the flight descended below the tree line, and a "sink rate developed before power could be increased." The pilot had to initiate a go-around because of a high sink rate and premature touchdown on the threshold of the prepared runway surface. He made a low pass over the airport, and received visual conformation that the landing gear were down from the airport manager. He then made a second approach, and the airplane veered to the left after touchdown. The pilot's attorney notified the Safety Board of the damages to the airplane on December 19, 1996.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N61FD
- Reported as
- Siai-Marchetti F206C
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 719
- Airframe hours
- 1,598
- Engine
- Lycoming IO-540-D4A5, 260 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Fighter Pilot USA, doing business as Fighter Pilots USA
- Registered owner
- Don Hinz
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Aerobatic
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · September 20, 1996 · 23 hours before
- Departed
- ISM
- Airport
- ISM · Kissimmee Municipal, runway 15, 6,001 × 100 ft, concrete
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
- 35
- Certificates
- Commercial, Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 2,626 total · 485 in this make and model · 2,474 as pilot in command · 36 in the last 90 days · 7 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Visibility
- 5 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 81 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.