Pilot Debrief

LOCKWOOD AIRCRAFT CORP AIR-CAM near Mount Victory, OH — 2009-11-07

Final reportCEN10LA049
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Date
2009-11-07
Location
Mount Victory, OH, USA
Airport
O74
Aircraft
LOCKWOOD AIRCRAFT CORP AIR-CAM
Registration
N32786
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Fatal
Fatalities
1
Phase of flight
Approach

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed, resulting in an aerodynamic stall and spin. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's unfamiliarity with the airplane subsequent to float installation.

NTSB narrative

The pilot was on the return flight after having a set of amphibious floats installed on his experimental amateur-built airplane. The airplane impacted the ground at a location consistent with the base leg of the airport traffic pattern. Impact damage, including crushing of the forward fuselage and right wing, and twisting of the tail, was consistent with a nose-down, right-wing-low impact. Damage to the right propeller indicated that the right engine was running at the time of the impact. The left engine and its propeller appeared to be intact. Examination of the left engine failed to reveal any defects that would have prevented normal operation. The damage to the left wing was not as severe as the damage to the right side of the airplane. No anomalies consistent with a preimpact failure associated with the airframe or engines were observed.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Controlled flight into terrain
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have aborted the landing approach when conditions were not favorable.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 2 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents2

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