# NTSB WPR10CA467: Sport Plane Dynamics Lightning, N121L, Glendale, AZ, September 22, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 22, 2010, 09:51 local (16:51 UTC) - Place: Glendale, AZ - Coordinates: 33.526943, -112.29528 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.5269&lon=-112.2953&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: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 20, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviatioin Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 77365 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR10CA467 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/77365/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77365 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10CA467 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper flare, which resulted in a bounced landing and loss of directional control. ## 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: [Sport Plane Dynamics LIGHTNING, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=056262L), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Sport Plane Dynamics LIGHTNING, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=056262L), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Sport Plane Dynamics LIGHTNING, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=056262L), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/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: [Sport Plane Dynamics LIGHTNING, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=056262L), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Sport Plane Dynamics LIGHTNING, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=056262L), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot-owner completed building his airplane and then performed a test flight with a pilot-rated passenger on board. The pilot-owner reported that the passenger was on board to assist him in becoming acquainted with the airplane's flying characteristics because the passenger had flying experience in somewhat similar airplanes. The passenger stated that after various maneuvers were performed, the pilot-owner attempted to land. Following the landing flare the pilot lost control of the airplane, it bounced several times, veered off the runway, and it came to rest in a nose low upright attitude. The airplane's undercarriage partially collapsed, both ailerons and the rudder were bent, and the airplane was substantially damaged. Airport personnel reported that the wind speed was 3 knots. No mechanical failures or malfunctions were reported. ## Factual narrative The pilot-owner completed building his airplane and then performed a test flight with a pilot-rated passenger on board. The pilot-owner reported that the passenger was on board to assist him in becoming acquainted with the airplane's flying characteristics because the passenger had flying experience in somewhat similar airplanes. The passenger stated that after various maneuvers were performed, the pilot-owner attempted to land. Following the landing flare the pilot lost control of the airplane, it bounced several times, veered off the runway, and it came to rest in a nose low upright attitude. The airplane's undercarriage partially collapsed, both ailerons and the rudder were bent, and the airplane was substantially damaged. Airport personnel reported that the wind speed was 3 knots. No mechanical failures or malfunctions were reported. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N121L](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N121L), registered now, S/N 45, built 2010 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: SPORT PLANE DYNAMICS LLC LIGHTNING - Registry model: [Sport Plane Dynamics LIGHTNING](https://openairdocs.org/model/sport-plane-dynamics-lightning) (registry code 056262L) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Jabiru 3300](https://openairdocs.org/engine/jabiru-3300) (registry code 34801, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 45 - Airframe hours: 1 - Engines: Jabiru 3300 120 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, July 26, 2010, 1 hours before - Departed: GEU, Glendale, AZ - Destination: GEU, Glendale, AZ - Airport: GEU, Glendale Municipal, runway 19, 7,150 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 73; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 12, 2009; seat: left; flight hours: 1,497 total, 1 in this make and model, 1,344 as pilot in command, 24 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours - Other flight crew; age 60; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 20, 2009; seat: right; flight hours: 1 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 120° at 3 knots - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 5,000 ft broken - Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 29.68 inHg - Observed at: GEU ## 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 20100922045459A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100922045459A), Sep 22, 2010: Sport Plane LIGHTNING, Glendale, AZ, Substantial damage. Accident location was the geu airport. The home built aircraft was on it's first flight with the builder/pilot plus a passenger aboard. The accident occurred… ## Other investigations on N121L (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 WPR13CA028](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13CA028), Oct 24, 2012: Sport Plane Dynamics Lightning (N121L), Casa Grande, AZ, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to follow specified procedures for an aborted landing and loss of control during the attempt. ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 18, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77365. 675 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 298 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40337753&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Meteorological Information (item 2, .PDF, 355 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40337754&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Meteorological%20Information-Master.PDF - Glendale Airport Accident Report (item 3, .PDF, 22 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40337755&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Glendale%20Airport%20Accident%20Report-Redacted.PDF 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.