# NTSB NYC08CA304: Quicksilver MXL II, N6152N, Cleveland, GA, September 6, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 5, 2008, 20:00 local (Sep 6, 2008, 00:00 UTC) - Place: Cleveland, GA - Coordinates: 34.561943, -83.713607 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.5619&lon=-83.7136&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 22, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 68879 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC08CA304 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/68879/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC08CA304 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper approach to the runway resulting in his being unable to flare prior to a hard landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Quicksilver MXL II SPORT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=059005K), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: descent/approach/glide path](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Quicksilver MXL II SPORT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md?model=059005K), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible (probable cause); cases with it: [Quicksilver MXL II SPORT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=059005K), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Quicksilver MXL II SPORT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=059005K), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The non-certificated pilot and his passenger took off from the turf strip in the experimental light sport Quicksilver MXL II, and flew for a short time before returning for a landing. The airplane touched down normally, and the pilot intentionally lifted off again. The pilot climbed to an altitude of approximately 50 feet above the runway, where he pitched the nose down to land again. The airplane attitude and flight path was "too steep to flare," and the pilot was unable to prevent the airplane from impacting the runway, which resulted in substantial airplane damage. The tubular frame of the airplane was fractured and bent in multiple locations. The pilot, seated in the left seat, was uninjured. His passenger, seated in the right seat, incurred serious injuries. The winds were calm, and daylight conditions existed at the time of the accident. The pilot did not report any mechanical problems on the accident flight. ## Factual narrative The non-certificated pilot and his passenger took off from the turf strip in the experimental light sport Quicksilver MXL II, and flew for a short time before returning for a landing. The airplane touched down normally, and the pilot intentionally lifted off again. The pilot climbed to an altitude of approximately 50 feet above the runway, where he pitched the nose down to land again. The airplane attitude and flight path was "too steep to flare," and the pilot was unable to prevent the airplane from impacting the runway, which resulted in substantial airplane damage. The tubular frame of the airplane was fractured and bent in multiple locations. The pilot, seated in the left seat, was uninjured. His passenger, seated in the right seat, incurred serious injuries. The winds were calm, and daylight conditions existed at the time of the accident. The pilot did not report any mechanical problems on the accident flight. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6152N](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6152N-2018-01-05), registration cancelled 2018-01-05, S/N 240, built 1995 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Quicksilver MXL II (Sport) - Registry model: [Quicksilver MXL II SPORT](https://openairdocs.org/model/quicksilver-mxl-ii-sport) (registry code 059005K) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 582DCDI](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-582dcdi) (registry code 55562, 2 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 240 - Airframe hours: 40 - Engines: Rotax 582 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental light sport (Special) - Last inspection: Unknown, October 7, 2007 - Departed: 0GE5, Cleveland, GA - Destination: 0GE5, Cleveland, GA - Flight plan: Unknown - Airport: 0GE5, Mountain Airpark, runway 36, 2,500 × 200 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 54; injuries: none; seat: left; flight hours: 400 total, 400 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 10° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 29.84 inHg - Observed at: PDK, 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20080905849189A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080905849189A), Sep 5, 2008: Quicks MXLIISPORT, Cleveland, GA, Substantial damage. (-23) On September 5, 2008, at 20:00, experimental light sport aircraft, occupied by two persons was reported by witnesses to have initiated a touch and go,… 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.