Lutz ACRO SPORT II N5181V

Summary

On 21 May 1994 at about 17:15 local time, a Lutz ACRO SPORT II registered N5181V was involved in an accident near Hornell, New York, United States. One person was 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

21 May 1994 at 17:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Hornell, New York, United States

Nearest airport

Hornell Municipal (4G6)

Coordinates

42.3206, -77.6602

Aircraft

Lutz ACRO SPORT II

Registration

N5181V

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Clarion → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC94LA087

Nobody was injured.

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN A PROPER GLIDEPATH. A FACTOR IN THIS ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE IN THIS TYPE OF AIRPLANE.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PILOT WAS LANDING ON A RUNWAY WHERE THE SURROUNDING TERRAIN IS LOWER AT THE APPROACH END OF THE RUNWAY. ON SHORT FINAL TO THE RUNWAY, THE PILOT LOST SIGHT OF THE LANDING AREA. THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR STRUCK THE RISING TERRAIN AT THE APPROACH END OF THE RUNWAY, COLLAPSED, AND THE AIRPLANE GROUND LOOPED. THE PILOT HAD JUST PURCHASED THE HOMEBUILT BI-PLANE 2 DAYS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. THE PILOT'S TOTAL FLYING EXPERIENCE IN BI-PLANES WAS THE 7 HOURS FLOWN IN THIS AIRPLANE. THREE OF THE FLIGHT HOURS WAS ACCOMPLISHED DURING A FERRY FLIGHT FROM OHIO TO NEW YORK. THE PILOT DID NOT RECEIVE ANY DUAL INSTRUCTION IN THE AIRPLANE, ONLY A VERBAL BRIEFING. THE PILOT WAS NOT AWARE OF THE LOSS OF FORWARD VISIBILITY, AND THE HIGH DRAG AND CORRESPONDING HIGH SINK RATES DURING SLOW, POWER OFF APPROACHES.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.