# NTSB NYC98LA086: Globe Swift, N10JN, Milton, DE, March 30, 1998

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 30, 1998, 11:00 local (16:00 UTC)
- Place: Milton, DE
- Coordinates: 38.769496, -75.309028 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.7695&lon=-75.3090&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 30, 1998
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 39549
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC98LA086
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/39549/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC98LA086

## Probable cause

improper flare by the pilot, 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/touchdown
  - flare - improper, pilot in command (cause)
- Gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown
  - landing gear,main gear - overload

## Analysis

During the landing flare, the airplane dropped from about 10 feet above the runway and landed hard. The right main landing gear broke and penetrated the wing.

## Factual narrative

On March 30, 1998, about 1100 Eastern Standard Time, a Globe Swift, N10JN, was substantially damaged during landing at Eagle Crest-Hudson Airport (DE25), Milton, Delaware.  Neither the certificated commercial pilot nor the passenger were injured.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed.  No flight plan had been filed for the local flight conducted under 14 CFR 91.

The pilot wrote that he was in the landing flare to Runway 32 with winds from 230 degrees, variable 200 to 250 degrees at 7 to 10 knots.  He leveled off the airplane and, "the next thing I knew, the A/C [airplane] dropped straight down, and impacted the RW [runway]."  The airplane then veered off the runway to the right and nosed over.

The pilot further wrote: "In hindsight, the A/C stalled about 10 feet above the RW...I had no warning that the A/C was going to stall, and the airspeed didn't seem that slow."

A Federal Aviation Administration Inspector stated that, during an interview, the pilot said the engine was operating at the time of the accident.  The Inspector also stated that she observed the propeller tips to be curled, and that the fuel gauges indicated the presence of fuel.  The right main landing gear was broken and driven up into the wing.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N10JN (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: Globe SWIFT
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 1088
- Airframe hours: 1374
- Engines: Continental C-125-2 125 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Audry L Barnum
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, July 15, 1997, 20 hours before
- Departed: DE25
- Airport: DE25, Eagle Crest Hudson, runway 32, 3,500 × 100 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 58; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,870 total, 19 in this make and model, 1,809 as pilot in command, 58 in the last 90 days, 14 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 230° at 7 knots, gusting 5
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 39 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg

## 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 19980330005889A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980330005889A), Mar 30, 1998: Swftms GC1B, Milton, DE, Substantial damage. Flared high in crosswind landing. S tailed and dropped to runway. Failed to add power and or go around. (.19) on March 30, 1998, about 1100 eastern standard…

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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