Sunday, December 27, 2020

Hard Landing: Questair M-20 Venture, N35HW; accident occurred October 27, 2019 at Spruce Creek Airport (7FL6), Daytona Beach, Volusia County, Florida



Aviation Accident Final Report - National Transportation Safety Board

Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Orlando, Florida 

Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board:


Location: Daytona Beach, Florida 
Accident Number: GAA20CA088
Date & Time: October 27, 2019, 11:53 Local 
Registration: N35HW
Aircraft: HIGGINS JOHN H/WILLIAMS JOHN D QUESTAIR VENTURE 
Aircraft Damage: Destroyed
Defining Event: Hard landing
Injuries: 2 Serious
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal

Analysis

The pilot reported that, during landing, his approach was unstable with an excessive descent rate. Surveillance video footage showed that the airplane touched down hard at the start of the displaced threshold, bounced, veered right, exited the side of the runway, clipped a tree, and then impacted terrain. A postcrash fire ensued. The airplane sustained thermal and substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage. The pilot report that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Probable Cause and Findings

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
The pilot's unstabilized approach, which resulted in a hard, bounced landing, loss of directional control, and impact with a tree and then terrain.

Findings

Personnel issues Aircraft control - Pilot
Aircraft Descent/approach/glide path - Not attained/maintained
Aircraft Directional control - Not attained/maintained
Environmental issues Tree(s) - Effect on operation

Factual Information

History of Flight

Landing-flare/touchdown Miscellaneous/other
Landing-flare/touchdown Hard landing (Defining event)
Landing-flare/touchdown Abnormal runway contact
Landing-flare/touchdown Runway excursion
Landing-flare/touchdown Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT)
Post-impact Fire/smoke (post-impact)

Pilot Information

Certificate: Airline transport; Commercial; Flight instructor
Age: 80, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine land; Single-engine sea; Multi-engine land; Multi-engine sea
Seat Occupied:
Other Aircraft Rating(s): Balloon; Glider; Helicopter 
Restraint Used: Unknown
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane; Helicopter 
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): Airplane multi-engine; Airplane single-engine; Helicopter; Instrument airplane; Instrument helicopter
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 3 With waivers/limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: March 1, 2019
Occupational Pilot: Yes
Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
Flight Time: (Estimated)

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: HIGGINS JOHN H/WILLIAMS JOHN D
Registration: N35HW
Model/Series: QUESTAIR VENTURE MDL 20 
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 2019 
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Experimental (Special)
Serial Number: 99
Landing Gear Type: Retractable - Tricycle 
Seats: 2
Date/Type of Last Inspection:
Certified Max Gross Wt.:
Time Since Last Inspection: 
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 
Engine Manufacturer: Continental
ELT: 
Engine Model/Series: IO-550-N
Registered Owner: 
Rated Power:
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual (VMC)
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: KEVB,10 ft msl 
Distance from Accident Site: 5 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 15:47 Local
Direction from Accident Site: 107°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Scattered / 3000 ft AGL 
Visibility: 10 miles
Lowest Ceiling: 
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 10 knots / 
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual: None / None
Wind Direction: 230° 
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual: N/A / N/A
Altimeter Setting: 30.02 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 30°C / 23°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: 
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination:
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time: 
Type of Airspace: Class G

Airport Information

Airport: Spruce Creek 7FL6 
Runway Surface Type: Asphalt
Airport Elevation: 24 ft msl
Runway Surface Condition: Dry
Runway Used: 24 
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width:4002 ft / 176 ft 
VFR Approach/Landing: Unknown

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 Serious
Aircraft Damage: Destroyed
Passenger Injuries: 1 Serious
Aircraft Fire: On-ground
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 2 Serious 
Latitude, Longitude: 29.080278,-81.046669(est)

3 comments:

  1. That's way more than a "Hard Landing"

    ReplyDelete
  2. That wasn't a hard landing. It was a crash, burn and almost die.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Check out questaire video youtube,Daytona. Just missed person on golf cart. Amazing no passenger injuries.

    ReplyDelete