# NTSB NYC00LA025: Knox HI-MAX, N63307, Dixfield, ME, November 5, 1999

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: November 5, 1999, 15:26 local (20:26 UTC)
- Place: Dixfield, ME
- Location: 44.5141° N, 70.4068° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at Swans Field (3S2), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.5141&lon=-70.4068&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report November 30, 2000
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 47747
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC00LA025
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/47747/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC00LA025

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to obtain the proper touchdown point.  A factor in the accident was the pilot's lack of experience in make and model.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing
  - proper touchdown point - not obtained, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience in type of aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor)

## Analysis

The pilot stated that while landing, he became low on the approach and added power to correct.  The pilot then 'cut' the power and continued the approach.  As the airplane neared the ground, it hit a 3-foot high hill with the landing gear and flipped over on its back.  This was the pilot's first flight in the homebuilt airplane.

## Factual narrative

On November 5, 1999, about 1526 Eastern Standard Time, a homebuilt Hi-Max, N63307, was substantially damaged while landing at the Swans Field Airport, Dixfield, Maine.  The certificated private pilot received serious injuries.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

The pilot stated that while landing on Runway 12, a 2,000-foot long grass runway, he became low on the approach and added power to correct.  The pilot then "cut" the power and continued the approach.  As the airplane neared the ground, it hit a 3-foot high hill with the landing gear and flipped over on its back.

This was the pilot's first flight in the homebuilt airplane.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N63307](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N63307-2000-01-18), registration cancelled 2000-01-18, S/N 817 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Knox HI-MAX
- Registry model: [Knox Gerald HI-MAX](https://openairdocs.org/model/knox-gerald-hi-max) (registry code 05606B2) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 817
- Airframe hours: 3
- Engines: Volkswagen 1600CC 50 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Gerald Knox
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, November 6, 1998, 3 hours before
- Departed: ME22
- Airport: 3S2, Swans Field Airport, runway 12, 2,000 × 100 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 52; private; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: center; flight hours: 108 total, 1 in this make and model, 76 as pilot in command, 3 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 180° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 20,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 36 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: AUG, 28 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 19991105046099A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19991105046099A), Nov 5, 1999: Amtr HIMAX, Dixfield, MB, No damage. (-23) Pilot was making an approach to field, when he realized that he was too low to clear a 3 foot berm at the approach end of the runway. He applied power…

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.

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