NYC02LA183

NTSB accident investigation · Royse Glasair · Flemingsburg, KY · September 6, 2002

Accident · FatalLimited investigationFinal report
Date
September 6, 2002, 14:05 local (18:05 UTC)
Place
Flemingsburg, KY
Injuries
1 fatal, 1 minor
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N582RRRoyse Glasair
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report May 13, 2003
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
20020906023319A
Case key
55640

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's improper recovery from a bounced landing, which resulted in a loss of control on the ground. A factor was the pilot's lack of experience in the type of aircraft.

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.

Loss of control - on ground/waterLanding
Lack of total experience in type of aircraftPilot in commandFactor
Recovery from bounced landing - improperPilot in commandCause
On ground/water encounter with terrain/waterLanding
Terrain condition - drop-off/descending embankment
Nose overLanding

Analysis

Prior to the accident flight, the pilot had never landed the accident airplane. To familiarize himself with the airplane, the pilot had read the aircraft manuals and completed several high-speed taxis. During the final approach, the airplane was about 10 knots too fast. The airplane touched down about 2,000 feet beyond the approach end of the 5,001-foot long runway, and porpoised. The pilot then applied forward pressure on the yoke, and added power. However, the airplane was not aligned with the runway centerline, and it veered left onto the grass. The pilot then applied heavy braking, and the airplane skidded on the grass, nosed over, and came to rest inverted at the bottom of a 40-foot embankment.

Factual narrative

On September 6, 2002, about 1405 eastern daylight time, an amateur built Glasair, N582RR, was substantially damaged while landing at Fleming-Mason Airport (FGX), Flemingsburg, Kentucky. The certificated airline transport pilot was fatally injured, and the passenger sustained minor injures. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

The passenger owned the airplane, and was a certificated private pilot. The passenger stated that the pilot was his brother-in-law, and had flown several different transport category aircraft for airlines and companies. However, the pilot had not landed the accident airplane prior to the accident. Before the flight, the pilot had familiarized himself with the airplane, and had completed many high-speed taxis.

The pilot and passenger tookoff from FGX about 1330, and flew over the local area for approximately 30 minutes. The pilot then flew the traffic pattern for runway 07, and was about 10 knots fast on final approach. The airplane touched down about 2,000 feet beyond the approach end of the 5,001-foot long runway, and "porpoised." The pilot applied forward pressure on the yoke, and added "a little power." The airplane was not aligned with the runway centerline, and veered left onto the grass. The pilot then "locked the brakes," and the airplane skidded on the grass, nosed over, and came to rest inverted at the bottom of a 40-foot embankment.

The pilot's most recent Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) first class medical certificate was issued on June 11, 2002. At that time, the pilot reported a total flight experience of 9,960 hours.

Toxicological testing was conducted on the pilot at the FAA Toxicology Accident Research Laboratory, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Examination of the wreckage by an FAA inspector did not reveal any pre-impact mechanical malfunctions, nor did the passenger report any.

The reported wind at an airport approximately 40 miles southwest of the accident site, at 1354, was from 170 degrees at 5 knots.

Aircraft

Registration
N582RR
Reported as
Royse Glasair
Category
Airplane, amateur-built
Serial number
582R
Airframe hours
600
Engine
Lycoming O-320, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Registered owner
Ralph L Royse
Airworthiness certificate
Special, Experimental (Special)
Last inspection
100 hour · July 10, 2002 · 3 hours before
Departed
FGX · Flemingsburg, KY
Airport
FGX · Fleming-Mason Airport, runway 07, 5,001 × 75 ft, asphalt

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
48
Injuries
Fatal
Certificate
Airline transport
Airplane ratings
Multi-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 1, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Seat
Left
Flight hours
9,960 total · 0 in this make and model

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
170° at 5 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
91 °F, dew point 50 °F
Altimeter
30.07 inHg
Observed at
LEX, 40 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.