# NTSB MIA99LA231: Alson g. Siler CH-701, N4394S, Mount Pleasant, NC, August 21, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 21, 1999, 19:30 local (23:30 UTC) - Place: Mount Pleasant, NC - Coordinates: 35.4001, -80.429977 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.4001&lon=-80.4300&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report March 2, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 47168 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA99LA231 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/47168/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA99LA231 ## Probable cause The failure of the pilot to apply sufficient right rudder input during the go-around following a bounced landing and his failure to maintain runway alignment resulting in the in-flight collision with trees 100-150 yards to the left of the runway. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, landing - aborted - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with object, landing - aborted - object - tree(s) (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis The pilot spent 5 years building the airplane which was signed off 4 days earlier by the FAA for 40 hours test phase. He had flown the airplane 2 previous times that day, each for 30 minutes. The accident flight departed, then returned to the airport and he stated that he was landing using runway 21 for the first time. He was on a long, low, final approach, and the airplane bounced twice and headed towards a corn field. He applied full power to go-around but the airplane collided with the tops of trees adjacent to the field, then the ground. A witness reported seeing the airplane on a low approach and believed the airplane would land short of the runway. He heard power applied and the airplane cleared a road near the approach end of the runway, then heard power decreased and observed the nose landing gear contact. The airplane bounced, he then heard power applied then reduced, and the airplane bounced again. He then heard power applied, observed the airplane turn to the left, and collide with trees. Examination of the site by an FAA inspector revealed the airplane collided with trees 100-150 yards south of the runway. ## Factual narrative On August 21, 1999, about 1930 eastern daylight time, a homebuilt airplane model CH-701, N4394S, registered to a private individual, collided with trees during a go-around from an attempted landing at the Bear Creek Airport, Mount Pleasant, North Carolina. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. The airplane was substantially damaged and the private-rated pilot, the sole occupant, sustained serious injuries. The flight originated about 30 minutes earlier from the Bear Creek Airport. The pilot stated that after spending 5 years to build the airplane, it was inspected by the FAA 4 days earlier and was signed off for 40 hours test phase. He had flown the airplane two previous times that day, each for 30 minutes. The accident flight departed, then returned to the airport and he stated that he was landing using runway 21 for the first time. He was on a long, low, final approach, and the airplane bounced twice then headed towards a corn field. He applied full power to go-around but the airplane collided with the tops of trees adjacent to the field, then the ground. A witness reported seeing the airplane on a low approach and believed the airplane was going to be short of the threshold by about 50 yards. He heard power applied and noted that the airplane cleared a dirt road near the approach end of the runway. He then heard power decreased and the airplane nosed over. The nose landing gear then contacted and the airplane bounced 10 feet in the air. He heard power applied then reduced and the airplane bounced again. He then heard power applied and observed the airplane turn to the left toward trees and pitch up to about 30 degrees. The airplane then contacted the tree tops with the bottom of the fuselage. Examination of the accident site by an FAA inspector revealed that the airplane collided with trees approximately 100-150 yards south of the southern edge of runway 21. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4394S](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4394S), registered now, S/N 7-3231 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Alson g. Siler CH-701 - Registry model: [Siler Alson Grolyn CH-701](https://openairdocs.org/model/siler-alson-grolyn-ch-701) (registry code 0560581) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 73231 - Airframe hours: 4 - Engines: Rotax 912 80 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Alson G. Siler - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: N44 - Airport: N44, Bear Creek Airport, runway 21, 2,080 × 85 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 42; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 113 total, 4 in this make and model, 37 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 59 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: CLT, 31 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 19990821013179A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990821013179A), Aug 21, 1999: Amtr CH701, Mount Pleasant, NC, Destroyed. (-23) See attached narrative 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.