Sweeney Timothy J RANS S6-ES N688KA

Summary

On 13 November 2015 at about 15:30 local time, a Sweeney Timothy J RANS S6-ES registered N688KA was involved in an accident near Winter Haven, 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

13 November 2015 at 15:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Winter Haven, Florida, United States

Nearest airport

Winter Haven's Gilbert (GIF)

Coordinates

28.0628, -81.7519

Aircraft

Sweeney Timothy J RANS S6-ES

Registration

N688KA

Category

Airplane

Year built

2009

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Orlando → Winter Haven

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

GAA16CA053

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot's improper landing flare, which resulted in a nose gear collapse and nose over.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that during an intentional landing on the grass parallel to an asphalt runway, he touched down fast and bounced "slightly." He then became distracted when another pilot reported over the radio that a coyote was crossing the runway. Subsequently, he "let the nose wheel down too early and too quickly." The nose gear collapsed and the airplane nosed over. The vertical stabilizer was substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.