Pilot Debrief

GLASAIR 1 near Greenville, TX — 2020-01-26

Final reportCEN20CA067
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Date
2020-01-26
Location
Greenville, TX, USA
Airport
GVT
Aircraft
GLASAIR 1
Registration
N238SH
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Minor
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Landing

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain a proper descent rate, which resulted in a hard landing, and his subsequent loss of airplane control during an attempted go-around.

NTSB narrative

The flight was the pilot's initial flight in the airplane make and model. The pilot reported that, during the landing, he had no forward visibility. About 10 ft above the runway, he was unable to arrest the descent rate even with the control stick full aft. The airplane touched down hard, and the pilot added power for a go-around. He felt the airplane accelerate and attempted to maintain the airplane in a level attitude; however, the airplane began an uncommanded left roll. The pilot could not regain control of the airplane and reduced power to idle before the airplane touched down again, this time off the edge of the runway. The main landing gear dug into the soft ground, and the airplane spun around backward. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Before the flight, the pilot adjusted the linkage of the elevator to match design specifications. During the flight, he tested the stall characteristics of the airplane. Each time, the airplane stalled about 40 knots. The pilot reported that, at the time of the accident, the airplane was flying about 60 knots.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Loss of control
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have aborted the landing earlier due to lack of visibility.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • 1 docket document
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents1

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