NTSB Identification: ERA12CA564
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Sunday, September 16, 2012 in Okeechobee, FL
Probable Cause Approval Date: 01/31/2013
Aircraft: LANCAIR COMPANY LC42-550FG, registration: N6512Y
Injuries: 2 Minor.
NTSB investigators used data provided by various entities, including, but not limited to, the Federal Aviation Administration and/or the operator and did not travel in support of this investigation to prepare this aircraft accident report.
The pilot/owner stated that he was conducting an experiment to see where on the runway the airplane would touch down using RNAV/GPS guidance. He said he became preoccupied with the instrumentation in the airplane, landed hard, and did not realize that he had done "serious damage" to the airplane. Examination of a video recording submitted by a witness revealed two high-speed, shallow approaches to the runway. On the first approach, the airplane traveled well past the normal touchdown zone at a high rate, touched down briefly, and then climbed back into the traffic pattern. On its second approach, the airplane crossed the runway threshold at a high rate of speed, a low altitude, and at a shallow approach angle. The airplane then struck the ground in a flat attitude, the nose landing gear separated from the airframe, and the propeller struck the runway. The airplane then pitched up, the engine noise increased, the tail struck the runway, and the airplane climbed at a shallow angle. The airplane subsequently collided with containers and vehicles in a commercial lot about one-half mile from the departure end of the runway. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
The pilot's improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing.
The pilot/owner stated that he was conducting an experiment to see where on the runway the airplane would touch down using RNAV/GPS guidance. He said he became preoccupied with the instrumentation in the airplane, landed hard, and did not realize that he had done "serious damage" to the airplane. Examination of a video recording submitted by a witness revealed two high-speed, shallow approaches to the runway. On the first approach, the airplane travelled well past the normal touchdown zone at a high rate, touched down briefly, and then climbed back into the traffic pattern. On its second approach, the airplane crossed the runway threshold at a high rate, low altitude, and at a shallow approach angle. The airplane then struck the ground in a flat attitude, the nose landing gear separated from the airframe, and the propeller struck the runway. The airplane then pitched up, the engine noise increased, the tail struck the runway, and the airplane climbed out of sight at a shallow angle. The airplane subsequently collided with containers and vehicles in a commercial lot approximately one-half mile from the departure end of the runway. In a telephone interview, when asked about the performance and handling of the airplane, the pilot said, "I cannot blame the accident on the airplane."
IDENTIFICATION
Regis#: 6512Y Make/Model: LC41 Description: COLUMBIA 400
Date: 09/16/2012 Time: 1504
Event Type: Incident Highest Injury: None Mid Air: N Missing: N
Damage: Unknown
LOCATION
City: OKEECHOBEE State: FL Country: US
DESCRIPTION
AIRCRAFT CRASHED WHILE DOING TOUCH AND GO'S. OKEECHOBEE, FL
INJURY DATA Total Fatal: 0
# Crew: 1 Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
# Pass: 0 Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
# Grnd: Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
OTHER DATA
Activity: Unknown Phase: Landing Operation: OTHER
FAA FSDO: ORLANDO, FL (SO15) Entry date: 09/17/2012
OKEECHOBEE—Two Jupiter men were sent to area hospitals following the crash of their 2003 single-engine Lancair airplane into a tanker-truck parked at Walpole Feed & Supply, Inc.
Okeechobee County Sheriff's Office Detective Marty D. Faulkner said the fixed-wing plane, valued at over $300,000, was registered to Thomas Hewitt. With Mr. Hewitt in the plane was Donald Dowd. The detective said Mr. Hewitt was airlifted to Lawnwood Regional Medical Center for treatment, while Mr. Dowd was taken to Raulerson Hospital.
As of Monday, Sept. 17, both men were doing well, stated the detective.
The Sunday, Sept. 16, crash apparently occurred as a result of the men practicing touch-and-go maneuvers at the Okeechobee County Airport around 10 to 10:30 a.m., stated a witness.
"The came in very hot, about midway on the runway, and they tried to force the plane down," said John Bubel, a local pilot with over 30 years of flying experience. "Out of a dozen times, they had one good landing. I would have quit at that."
On what turned out to be their last touch-and-go attempt, the plane hit the runway with such force that the nose wheel was sheared off, said Mr. Bubel, who had been watching the plane from the patio of the airport restaurant. That apparently caused the nose of the plane to dip and the prop to hit the runway.
"They tried to take off again, but once you hit the prop you don't have any power," said Mr. Bubel.
The plane did manage to get airborne again but only flew a short distance before striking a tanker-truck parked at the Walpole Feed & Supply company at N.W. Eighth St. and U.S. 98 N.
"Once it was beyond the tree line we saw a big explosion. When we got there (Walpole's) we realized he hit the top of a tanker-truck," recalled Mr. Bubel. "They (the plane's occupants) were in their late 60s. One of them was sitting up and had a bloody face. The other one had some blood on his chest and he was laying down. They got banged up."
Detective Faulkner said the small plane hit the truck then slid over 150 feet where it struck some lumber material. The plane continued to slide until it finally came to rest in a wooded area along N.W. Eighth St.
A spokeswoman with Walpole said Monday that the tanker carries molasses but she wasn't sure if there was any in the tanker at the time. She said the truck and tanker had a value of around $140,000.
Mr. Bubel said he continued to watch as the pilot of the plane kept coming in "too hot," hitting the runway then taking off. He did say, however, on about the fifth attempt the plane came in very smoothly, touched down gently then became airborne.
"We realized right away someone wasn't very good with that plane," he offered.
Detective Faulkner said Mr. Dowd was the pilot when the nose of the plane stuck the runway. Mr. Hewitt then took control of the plane and tried to fly it until it crashed into the tanker-truck.
As he watched the plane attempt to land then take off again, Mr. Bubel said he just knew something bad was going to happen.
"I've never seen anybody that bad," he added.
Source: http://florida.newszap.com
OKEECHOBEE, Fla. - Federal Aviation experts are investigating a plane crash in Okeechobee County that sent two men to the hospital.
A Columbia high-performance plane touched down at the Okeechobee Airport Sunday morning, but the landing went wrong. The plane gyrated in the air.
"Not even a minute later, two miles southwest of the airport, the airplane went down,” said Alex Mendoza, airport manager.
The plane crashed in the parking lot of Walpole Feed and came to rest in the woods nearby. A black column of smoke shot in the air, as a semi truck caught fire. Pilot Kris Smith witnessed the scene from the sky.
"I orbited around the site of the crash at 2,000 feet, put an emergency call out,” said Smith. "Sadly, there was a lot of smoke and fire."
Mendoza says an emergency medical helicopter carried one of the plane’s occupants to a hospital.
"Just praying for hope … for a good outcome for those involved,” said Smith.
The Federal Aviation Administration arrived on scene hours later to investigate.
A wheel and a wing cover were left on the runway Sunday afternoon.
The National Transportation Safety Board is reviewing the cause of the crash.
Read more: http://www.wptv.com
OKEECHOBEE COUNTY, Fla - The Okeechobee County Sheriff's Office has confirmed two people were injured in a plane crash in Okeechobee County.
Spokeswoman Michelle Bell said two people were on board the Lancair aircraft that was attempting to make a landing at the Okeechobee County airport, when it crashed off of Highway 98 behind the Walpole Feed & Supply just before 12 p.m., Sunday.
One passenger was airlifted to Lawnwood Regional Medical Center and the other was taken to Raulerson Hospital.
The extent of the victims' injuries have not been released.
Bell added a tractor trailer caught fire nearby, after the plane crashed.
Read more
