# NTSB NYC00LA259: Mihlebach Waco, N521S, Williamstown, NJ, September 2, 2000

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 2, 2000, 11:45 local (15:45 UTC)
- Place: Williamstown, NJ
- Location: 39.6556° N, 75.0144° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at SOUTHERN CROSS (C01), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.6556&lon=-75.0144&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 8, 2001
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 50224
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC00LA259
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/50224/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC00LA259

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to execute an adequate flare, which resulted in a hard landing.

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing
  - flare - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
- Main gear collapsed, landing
  - landing gear,axle - fractured
- Nose over, landing

## Analysis

At the end of a local VFR flight, the pilot flared the homebuilt airplane to land, and it touched down hard.  The left axle bracket separated, and the airplane came to rest inverted.  The pilot was the builder of the airplane.

## Factual narrative

On September 2, 2000, about 1145 Eastern Daylight Time, a homebuilt Waco, N521S, was substantially damaged during landing at Southern Cross Airport, Williamstown, New Jersey.  The certificated private pilot and passenger were not injured.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the personal local flight conducted 14 CFR Part 91.

According to the pilot, he entered a "standard pattern" for Runway 27, and that the downwind, base, and final portions of the traffic pattern were "normal."  When the pilot flared the airplane, it bounced, and then nosed over.

According to a Federal Aviation Administration inspector, the pilot flared to land on the runway, and the airplane touched down hard.  The left axle bracket weld separated, and the airplane came to rest inverted.  The pilot was the manufacturer of the airplane, and had welded the separated component.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N521S (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: Mihlebach WACO
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 002GM
- Airframe hours: 47
- Engines: Continental W670-6A 220 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Gustav Mihlebach
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, September 18, 1999, 20 hours before
- Departed: C01
- Airport: C01, Souther Cross, runway 27, 2,400 × 80 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 49; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: rear; flight hours: 666 total, 45 in this make and model, 4 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: variable at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: MIV, 23 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 20000902043469A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000902043469A), Sep 2, 2000: Amtr F2SPECIAL, Williamstown, NJ, Substantial damage. (-23) On landing runway 27 aircraft was flared and bounced once. Pilot added power to settle aircraft. Left axle failed (wheel separated from aircraft) and the…

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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