Parks Jerry R LANCAIR N320J

Summary

On 28 March 2009 at about 21:15 local time, a Parks Jerry R LANCAIR registered N320J was involved in an accident near Milton, Florida, United States. One person was 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

28 March 2009 at 21:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Milton, Florida, United States

Nearest airport

Peter Prince Field Airport (2R4)

Coordinates

30.6378, -86.9936

Aircraft

Parks Jerry R LANCAIR

Registration

N320J

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Milton → Milton

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA09CA219

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during landing.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

Following a local flight, the pilot attempted to land on runway 18. The pilot reported that, approximately 10 feet above the runway, a gust of wind caused the right wing to rise "about 30 degrees from level." Even though the pilot added power, "and put the ailerons and rudder full right," the airplane "did not respond" and veered to the left. The airplane impacted the ground to the left of the runway, substantially damaging the wings, tail, fuselage, and engine. The pilot sustained minor injury. The airport had an automated surface observing system (ASOS); however, it did not have the ability to record weather observations. The pilot stated that the ASOS reported "windshear" before his departure and that the winds were from 210 degrees at 10 knots with gusts to 25 knots. The reported weather at nearby airports included gusty winds from the southwest, between 9 and 24 knots, before and after the accident. One of these airports reported a peak wind of 28 knots from 240 degrees approximately 4 minutes after the accident. The pilot reported that the pilot's operating handbook for the airplane stated that the maximum demonstrated crosswind was "20 knots."

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.