Brinkerhuff Gerald G Q200 N2935R

Summary

On 6 October 2011 at about 22:40 local time, a Brinkerhuff Gerald G Q200 registered N2935R, operated by Brinkerhuff Gerald G, was involved in an accident near Holland, Michigan, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

6 October 2011 at 22:40

Classification

Accident

Location

Holland, Michigan, United States

Nearest airport

Tulip City (BIV)

Coordinates

42.7450, -86.0925

Aircraft

Brinkerhuff Gerald G Q200

Registration

N2935R

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Brinkerhuff Gerald G

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Holland → Allegan

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN12FA010

1 person died.

The pilot failed to maintain sufficient altitude during the landing approach, which resulted in the airplane contacting an approach light. Contributing to the accident was the setting sun, which most likely obscured the pilot’s vision.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot was landing the airplane when it contacted a 14-foot 8-inch tall approach light stanchion that was located about 460 feet from the approach end of the runway. The airplane crashed and came to rest inverted. Witnesses reported that the airplane appeared to be operating normally as the pilot performed touch-and-go landings before the accident. Another witness reported the airplane was low as it approached the runway on the final approach. The pilot had about 2 hours of flight time in the newly built tandem wing airplane. A postaccident examination of the airplane and engine did not reveal any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The examination found the throttle in the retarded position and noted that its location required the pilot to reach his left hand across his body to control it while his right hand was on the control stick. According to sun and moon data for the day of the accident, the landing approach would have been in the direction of the setting sun, which likely would have obscured the pilot’s vision as he approached the runway, making it difficult to judge the airplane’s height above the ground and clearance from the approach lights.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.