Henry PELICAN N696DH

Summary

On 9 April 2001 at about 23:40 local time, a Henry PELICAN registered N696DH, operated by Pierre R. Legare, was involved in an accident near Lakeland, Florida, United States. 2 people were on board and one died, one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

9 April 2001 at 23:40

Classification

Accident

Location

Lakeland, Florida, United States

Nearest airport

Lakeland-Linder Regional (LAL)

Coordinates

27.9794, -82.0109

Aircraft

Henry PELICAN

Registration

N696DH

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Pierre R. Legare

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Lakeland → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

MIA01LA120

1 person died.

The pilot's delay in aborting the takeoff in a downwind condition resulting in an overrun and subsequent collision with a ditch. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's failure to conduct performance planning for the flight.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The passenger stated the deceased pilot applied full power and started the takeoff roll on runway 09. Review of the surface weather observation for the airport revealed the pilot was taking off with a tailwind. A short time later the pilot was observed by the passenger to pull back on the flight controls to rotate, and the tail collided with the ground slowing the airplane down. The pilot lowered the nose in an attempt to regain airspeed and attempted to rotate again with the same results. He repeated his actions one more time with negative results. The passenger observed the end of the runway approaching. The pilot said something, but he could not understand him. The pilot pulled the throttle back, but did not apply any brakes before the airplane went off the end of the runway and collided with a ditch. Examination of the airframe, flight controls, engine assembly and accessories revealed no evidence of a precrash mechanical failure or malfunction.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.