Michael L Luckey SPORTSMAN 2 + 2 N116ML

Summary

On 22 August 1999 at about 15:00 local time, a Michael L Luckey SPORTSMAN 2 + 2 registered N116ML was involved in an accident near Grand Junction, Tennessee, United States. 3 people were on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

22 August 1999 at 15:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Grand Junction, Tennessee, United States

Nearest airport

Peterson Ranch Airport (6TN7)

Coordinates

35.0409, -89.1791

Aircraft

Michael L Luckey SPORTSMAN 2 + 2

Registration

N116ML

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Rossville → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

MIA99LA236

1 person had minor injuries.

The improper spoiler extension by the passenger following the bounced landing, which resulted in the hard landing and collapse of the left main landing gear.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot stated the right front seat passenger deployed the spoilers during the flare to land causing a hard landing. The passenger retracted then redployed the spoilers when the airplane bounced. The airplane landed hard collapsing the left main landing gear then collided with terrain. The right front seat passenger stated that he deployed the spoilers after the airplane landed and may have retracted them momentarily but activated them again. The pilot did not apply power and the airplane landed then veered off the runway. He stated 'in retrospect, he probably shouldn't have kept the spoilers out after bouncing', and he previously agreed with the pilot to keep the spoilers deployed once activated. The rear seat passenger who had a clear view of the 'D ring' which activates the spoilers stated the airplane landed hard then bounced. Only following the bounce, did he see the right front passenger activate the spoilers. Examination of the site by an FAA inspector revealed the airplane came to rest in a ditch off the left side of the runway, approximately 800-1,000 feet from the approach end of the runway. The airplane was equipped with spoilers installed in the upper side of both wings.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.