# NTSB WPR13CA028: Sport Plane Dynamics Lightning, N121L, Casa Grande, AZ, October 24, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: October 24, 2012, 10:40 local (17:40 UTC) - Place: Casa Grande, AZ - Coordinates: 32.954723, -111.76667 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.9547&lon=-111.7667&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: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 31, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 85456 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR13CA028 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/85456/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=85456 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13CA028 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to follow specified procedures for an aborted landing and loss of control during the attempt. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: incorrect action sequence](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041020): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Sport Plane Dynamics LIGHTNING, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041020/cases.md?model=056262L), [All aircraft, 77 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041020/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: use of checklist](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Sport Plane Dynamics LIGHTNING, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063030/cases.md?model=056262L), [All aircraft, 336 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063030/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: configuration](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062017): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Sport Plane Dynamics LIGHTNING, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062017/cases.md?model=056262L), [All aircraft, 80 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062017/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Sport Plane Dynamics LIGHTNING, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=056262L), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/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-aborted after touchdown: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Sport Plane Dynamics LIGHTNING, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=056262L), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that during the landing flare with full flaps selected, the airplane landed hard and bounced back into the air. The pilot attempted to abort the landing by applying full power and retracting the flaps in an effort to regain airspeed. The pilot stated that he was unable to regain airspeed and kept the wings level until the airplane landed adjacent to the runway. Subsequently, the airplane struck a dirt berm and came to rest nose low. Examination of the airplane revealed that the right wing was structurally damaged. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot operating handbook for the make/model of the accident airplane outlines a procedure for balked landings. The procedure states that the throttle should be placed full forward, the trim set as required, and flaps positioned to one-half and then retracted when operating above 80 miles per hour and 100 feet above ground level. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that during the landing flare with full flaps selected, the airplane landed hard and bounced back into the air. The pilot aborted the landing by applying full power and retracting the flaps in an effort to regain airspeed. The pilot stated that he was unable to regain airspeed, and kept the wings level until it landed adjacent to the runway. Subsequently, the airplane struck a dirt berm, and came to rest nose low. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the right wing was structurally damaged. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot operating handbook for the accident make/model airplane outlines a procedure for balked landings. The procedure states that throttle should be placed full forward, trim set as required, flags positioned to one-half, and retract flaps when above 80 miles per hour and 100 feet above ground level. ## 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: 50 - Engines: JABIRU 3300 120 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Sport Plane Dynamics LLC - Registered owner: Sport Plane Dynamics LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, May 2, 2012, 10 hours before - Departed: GEU, Glendale, AZ - Destination: CSZ, Casa Grande, AZ - Airport: CSZ, Casa Grande Municipal Airport, runway 05, 5,200 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 75; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review July 28, 2011; seat: left; flight hours: 1,704 total, 50 in this make and model, 1,465 as pilot in command, 2 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 29.93 inHg - Observed at: CGZ ## 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 20121024022509A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20121024022509A), Oct 24, 2012: Sport Plane Dynamics LLC LIGHTNING, Casa Grande, AZ, Substantial damage. On October 24, 2012, at approximately 10:40AM, while landing on runway 05 at Casa Grande airport (cgz), the pilot in command made a hard landing. The initial… ## 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 WPR10CA467](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10CA467), Sep 22, 2010: Sport Plane Dynamics Lightning (N121L), Glendale, AZ, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's improper flare, which resulted in a bounced landing and loss of directional control. ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 28, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=85456. 554 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 394 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40381700&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Portion of the Pilot Operating Handbook (item 2, .PDF, 135 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40382075&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Portion%20of%20the%20Pilot%20Operating%20Handbook-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation - Pilot (item 3, .PDF, 25 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40382076&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Pilot-Master.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.