Mid State Ultra Light CHALLENGER II UNREG

Summary

On 21 May 1994 at about 21:00 local time, a Mid State Ultra Light CHALLENGER II registered UNREG was involved in an accident near Islamorada, Florida, 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

21 May 1994 at 21:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Islamorada, Florida, United States

Coordinates

24.9208, -80.6307

Aircraft

Mid State Ultra Light CHALLENGER II

Registration

UNREG

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Holiday Isle → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

MIA94LA146

Nobody was injured.

The pilot-in-command's failure to maintain airspeed (VS) while landing in turbulent air resulting in an in-flight loss of control (inadvertent stall), and subsequent in-flight collision with terrain.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PILOT STATED HE WAS AT 1,200 FEET AGL FLYING TOWARDS THE COASTLINE FROM THE EAST, AND HE ENCOUNTERED TURBULENT AIR CONDITIONS OVER THE EDGE OF THE LAND MASS. THE AIRPLANE ROLLED TO THE LEFT AND THE NOSE PITCHED DOWN. HE PUSHED THE CONTROL STICK FORWARD, AND APPLIED RIGHT AILERON AND RUDDER. HE REGAINED CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE AT ABOUT 600 FEET AND CIRCLED BACK FOR LANDING. WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH FOR LANDING AT ABOUT 75 TO 150 FEET AGL OVER THE SAME LAND MASS, THE AIRPLANE ROLLED TO THE LEFT AND THE NOSE PITCHED DOWN. HE ATTEMPTED THE SAME RECOVERY PROCEDURE AS BEFORE WITHOUT SUCCESS. THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH THE WATER IN A NOSE-DOWN ATTITUDE. HE STATED HE COULD NOT REMEMBER WHAT HIS AIRSPEED WAS BEFORE THE AIRPLANE ROLLED TO THE LEFT, AND THAT HE HAD NOT DETERMINED THE NEW STALL SPEED FOR THE AIRPLANE AFTER THE INSTALLATION OF THE FLOAT KIT. HE FURTHER STATED THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF A PRECRASH MECHANICAL FAILURE OF THE AIRFRAME, FLIGHT CONTROLS, ENGINE ASSEMBLY OR ACCESSORIES.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.