# NTSB SEA06LA184: Shimer One Design, N973D, Lake Wales, FL, September 20, 2006 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 20, 2006, 13:34 local (17:34 UTC) - Place: Lake Wales, FL - Coordinates: 27.893611, -81.620277 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.8936&lon=-81.6203&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal - Status: Completed, report April 25, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 64535 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA06LA184 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/64535/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA06LA184 ## Probable cause The loss of control for an undetermined reason during the landing roll. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - weather condition - crosswind - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Nose over, landing - roll - terrain condition - runway ## Analysis The pilot was landing the amateur-built experimental category airplane on a dry, paved runway. FAA inspectors reported that tire marks on the runway indicated the airplane touched down on the runway, and at some point during the landing roll it veered left of the runway centerline. The airplane nosed over on the western edge of the runway. The airplane's canopy was crushed during the accident sequence and the pilot, the sole occupant, was killed. There were no witnesses to the accident. The pilot of a departing aircraft reported seeing the wreckage during his initial climb from the airport. The hourly Aviation Routine Weather Report (METAR) was, in part, wind from 280 degrees (true) at 10 knots; visibility, 15 statute miles; temperature 29 degrees C; altimeter, 29.91 inches. ## Factual narrative HISTORY OF FLIGHT On September 20, 2006, about 1334 eastern daylight time, the pilot of N973D, an amateur-built experimental category Shimer - One Design (DR 107), was fatally injured, subsequent to a nose-over, during the landing rollout at Lake Wales Municipal Airport (a non-towered airport), Lake Wales, Florida. The airplane was owned by the pilot and operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country flight under the provisions of Title 14, CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated from Aero Acers Airport, Fort Pierce, Florida. Representatives from the Federal Aviation Administration, Orlando, Florida, Flight Standards District Office, and the Lake Wales police department reported there were tire marks on runway 35 that indicated the airplane touched down on the runway, and at some point during the landing roll the airplane veered left of runway centerline. The airplane exited the hard surface runway, nosed over, and came to rest on the western edge of the runway adjacent to the taxiway "bravo" intersection. The FAA inspector reported that the airplane's canopy was crushed and damage was noted to the vertical stabilizer. There were no witnesses to the accident. The pilot of a departing aircraft (DHC-6 Twin Otter) reported seeing the wreckage during his initial climb from the airport. A statement from the pilot is contained in the public docket for this case file. PERSONNEL INFORMATION The pilot held a private pilot certificate with an airplane single-engine land rating. The pilot held an FAA third class airman medical certificate issued on June 8, 2006. The medical certificate contained a limitation that required the pilot to wear corrective lenses for near and distant vision. The pilot reported "3,000+" hours total experience (25 in the 6 month period preceding the medical) at his last medical exam. AIRCRAFT INFORMATION According to the FAA aircraft registry, the accident airplane received an experimental category airworthiness certificate on January 24, 1995. The single-seat conventional landing gear airplane was equipped with a Lycoming IO-360 engine. METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION The closest weather observation facility to the accident site was Bartow, Florida. On September 20, at 1351 EDT, the hourly Aviation Routine Weather Report (METAR) was, in part, wind from 280 degrees (true) at 10 knots; visibility, 15 statute miles; temperature 29 degrees C; altimeter, 29.91 inches. MEDICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL INFORMATION A postmortem examination of the pilot was conducted on September 21, 2006. According to the autopsy report, the cause of death was attributed to "Fractures of the cervical vertebra." The manner of death was listed as accidental. The FAA's Forensic Toxicology Research Team, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, conducted toxicology testing. The pilot tested negative for carbon monoxide, cyanide, ethanol and a wide range of drugs, including drugs of abuse. The final forensic toxicology report, which includes specific test parameters and results, is contained in the public docket for this case. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N973D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N973D-2014-09-30), registration cancelled 2014-09-30, S/N 73D, built 1996 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Shimer One Design - Registry model: [Shimer Jon R ONE DESIGN](https://openairdocs.org/model/shimer-jon-r-one-design) (registry code 05626PF) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 SER A&C](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-ser-a-c) (registry code 41511, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 73D - Engines: Lycoming IO-360 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Jon R. Shimer - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: FD88, FORT PIERCE, FL - Destination: X07, Lake Wales, FL - Airport: X07, Lake Wales Muni, runway 35, 4,003 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 70; injuries: fatal; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: single; toxicology performed; flight hours: 3,000 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 280° at 10 knots - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 11,000 ft broken - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 29.90 inHg - Observed at: KBOW, 8 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 20060920020819A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060920020819A), Sep 20, 2006: Amtr ONEDESIGN, Lake Wales, FL, Minor damage, 1 fatal. (-23) Aircraft landed on runway 35, the tire marks on the runway indicated the aircraft touchdown was near the center line, aircraft s turned across 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. --- 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.