# NTSB SEA08CA165: Antares - Balaban MA33, N92287, Byron, CA, July 22, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 22, 2008, 11:30 local (18:30 UTC) - Place: Byron, CA - Coordinates: 37.828334, -121.625831 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.8283&lon=-121.6258&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 28, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 68540 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA08CA165 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/68540/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA08CA165 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain an adequate airspeed, which resulted in a stall/mush. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Antares MA33-582, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=05902ZJ), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/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: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Antares MA33-582, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=05902ZJ), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [Antares MA33-582, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=05902ZJ), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Antares MA33-582, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=05902ZJ), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was landing the two-seat amateur-built experimental light sport aircraft at his planned destination when the accident occurred. The pilot stated about 10-feet above ground level (agl) "...we suddenly dropped through the air and the aircraft hit the ground hard." The aircraft's nose gear fork separated and the aircraft veered off the runway and nosed over. The aircraft sustained structural damage to the left wing. No mechanical anomalies or malfunctions with the aircraft were reported. ## Factual narrative The pilot was landing the two-seat amateur-built experimental light sport aircraft at his planned destination when the accident occurred. The pilot stated about 10-feet above ground level (agl) "...we suddenly dropped through the air and the aircraft hit the ground hard." The aircraft's nose gear fork separated and the aircraft veered off the runway and nosed over. The aircraft sustained structural damage to the left wing. No mechanical anomalies or malfunctions with the aircraft were reported. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N92287](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N92287-2022-10-01), registration cancelled 2022-10-01, S/N 0242 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Antares - Balaban MA33 - Registry model: [Antares MA33-582](https://openairdocs.org/model/antares-ma33-582) (registry code 05902ZJ) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 582ULDCDI-99](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-582uldcdi-99) (registry code 55560, 2 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Weight-shift - Serial number: not give - Engines: Rotax 582 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Miodrag Balaban - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Special light-sport (Special); Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: 12CA, LODI, CA - Destination: C83, Byron, CA - Airport: C83, Byron, runway 23, 3,000 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 32; injuries: none; sport pilot; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: sport pilot; flight hours: 75 total, 73 in this make and model, 74 as pilot in command, 22 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 220° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F ## 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 20080722841809A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080722841809A), Jul 22, 2008: Amtr ANTARESMA33, Byron, CA, Substantial damage. (-23) Landing runway 23 at Byron, CA (C83). Winds were at 3 knots from 220 at the time of the accident. Aircraft approach speed was at 60 mph and the aircraft… ## Other investigations on N92287 (1) 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. - [NTSB GAA20CA019](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA20CA019), Oct 11, 2019: Antares MA33 (N92287), Coeur d'Alene, ID, substantial damage. Probable cause: The student pilot's improper release of the throttle and failure to maintain lateral control during takeoff. 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.