Snelling ZODIAC N826W

Summary

On 17 September 2008 at about 15:30 local time, a Snelling ZODIAC registered N826W, operated by Timothy Egan, was involved in an accident near Rexburg, Idaho, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

17 September 2008 at 15:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Rexburg, Idaho, United States

Nearest airport

Rexburg Madison County Airport (KRXE)

Coordinates

43.8328, -111.8068

Aircraft

Snelling ZODIAC

Registration

N826W

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Timothy Egan

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Rigby → Rexburg

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

SEA08CA203

Nobody was injured.

The private pilot's excessive use of the flight controls and improper landing flair, which resulted in a hard landing and subsequent gear collapse.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The aircraft owner, who held a commercial pilot certificate, was seated in the right seat, and a private pilot was in the left seat, for an instructional/transition flight in the amateur built experimental airplane. The aircraft owner reported that they were landing when the private pilot reduced engine power on short final and the aircraft's nose dropped. The owner said the private pilot pulled the stick back "too aggressively" and then moved it rapidly forward and the airplane subsequently contacted the runway "quite hard." In response, the private pilot increased power and initiated a go-around. As the power increased the airplane's nose pitched up and the private pilot "shoved" the stick forward. The airplane contacted the runway in a 30-40 degree nose down attitude. After contacting the runway, the airplane's nose and right main gear collapsed, which resulted in structural damage to the wing assembly and forward fuselage. No preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane were reported.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.