MIA97LA042

NTSB accident investigation · Siai-Marchetti F206C · Kissimmee, FL · October 25, 1996

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
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.

Hard landingLanding - flare/touchdown
Weather condition - haze/smoke
Flare - misjudgedPilot in commandCause
In flight collision with terrain/waterLanding - flare/touchdown
Terrain condition - runway

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.