Controlled Flight into Terrain: Christavia Mk I, N222PN; accident occurred June 22, 2019 at Lancaster County-Mcwhirter Field (LKR), South Carolina

The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident.

Additional Participating Entity: 
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Columbia, South Carolina

Aviation Accident Factual Report - National Transportation Safety Board:  https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf

Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board: https://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms

https://registry.faa.gov/N222PN 

Location: Lancaster, SC
Accident Number: CEN19TA180
Date & Time: 06/22/2019, 0710 EDT
Registration: N222PN
Aircraft: Elmwood CHRISTAVIA
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)
Injuries: 1 Serious, 1 Minor
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal 

On June 22, 2019, about 0710 eastern daylight time, an Elmwood Christavia Mark 1, N222PN, collided with the ground 2,000 yards short of runway 24 at Lancaster County-McWhirter Field (LKR), Lancaster, South Carolina. The private pilot sustained minor injuries and the passenger was seriously injured. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions existed near the accident site at the time of the accident. No flight plan had been filed. The flight originated from Lancaster County-McWhirter Field (LKR). Lancaster, South Carolina, about 0630.

The pilot did not complete NTSB Form 6120.1-2, Pilot-Operator Aircraft Accident Report. However, he was interviewed by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector after his release from the hospital. According to the inspector, the pilot told him he had been distracted and made the mistake of getting too low and too slow. When he realized he could not make the airport, he made an off-field landing.

The inspector reported both landing gears had separated from the aircraft, the left-wing lift strut was bent and broken, the bottom of the aircraft was damaged, and the right side cabin floor board was broken. The wooden propeller was shattered and bore indications that the engine was running at high power at impact with the ground. There were no mechanical anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operations.

Pilot Information

Certificate: Flight Instructor; Commercial
Age: 73, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Multi-engine Land; Single-engine Land
Seat Occupied: Front
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used: Lap Only
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): Airplane Single-engine
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Sport Pilot
Last FAA Medical Exam:
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: 06/29/2017
Flight Time: (Estimated) 1300 hours (Total, all aircraft), 200 hours (Total, this make and model)

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: Elmwood
Registration: N222PN
Model/Series: CHRISTAVIA 1
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture:
Amateur Built: Yes
Airworthiness Certificate: Experimental Light Sport
Serial Number: 614
Landing Gear Type: Tailwheel
Seats: 2
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 09/28/2018, Condition
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 1300 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection:
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time:
Engine Manufacturer: Continental
ELT:
Engine Model/Series: A-65
Registered Owner: On file
Rated Power: 65 hp
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: LKR, 486 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 25 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 0715 EDT
Direction from Accident Site: 240°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Unknown
Visibility:  
Lowest Ceiling: Unknown
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 8 knots / 20 knots
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual:
Wind Direction: 320°
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual:
Altimeter Setting:
Temperature/Dew Point: 20°C / *°C
Precipitation and Obscuration:
Departure Point: Lancaster, SC (LKR)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Lancaster, SC (LKR)
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time: 0630 EDT
Type of Airspace: Class G

Airport Information

Airport: Lancaster Cnty-McWhirter Fld (LKR)
Runway Surface Type: Concrete
Airport Elevation: 486 ft
Runway Surface Condition: Dry
Runway Used: 24
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width: 6004 ft / 101 ft
VFR Approach/Landing: Forced Landing

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 Minor
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: 1 Serious
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 Serious, 1 Minor
Latitude, Longitude: 34.722778, -80.854722 (est)