Pilot Debrief

LANCAIR COMPANY LC42-550FG near Okeechobee, FL — 2012-09-16

Final reportERA12CA564
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Date
2012-09-16
Location
Okeechobee, FL, USA
Airport
OBE
Aircraft
LANCAIR COMPANY LC42-550FG
Registration
N6512Y
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Minor
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Approach

Probable cause

The pilot's improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing.

NTSB narrative

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.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Human factors
First missed decision gate
Pilot became preoccupied with instrumentation during approach.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Video
  • 7 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents7

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