Liberty XL-2 N508XL

Summary

On 21 November 2006 at about 16:40 local time, a Liberty XL-2 registered N508XL, operated by Liberty Aerospace, Inc., was involved in an accident near Melbourne, 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 November 2006 at 16:40

Classification

Accident

Location

Melbourne, Florida, United States

Nearest airport

Melbourne (KMLB)

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Liberty XL-2

Registration

N508XL

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Liberty Aerospace, Inc.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Melbourne → Melbourne

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

MIA07CA020

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's (Dual Student) failure to relinquish control of the airplane when instructed by the certified flight instructor resulting in airspeed not being maintained and an inadvertent stall.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The certified flight instructor (CFI) stated the pilot was on a familiarization training flight, due to an anticipated purchase of the airplane. They reviewed stalls, flight configuration changes, and emergency procedures before practicing landings. The CFI demonstrated the first landing and elected to have the pilot perform the second landing. The CFI called for a go around due to the unstable approach and high flare. During the second attempt to land by the pilot, the flared was too high, about 10 feet above the ground. The pilot did not respond to the instructions for corrective action and go around. At that point, the CFI called for the controls and initiated full engine power for the go around as the airplane was being blown and pulled to the left side of the runway in a nose high, slow airspeed, and unstable condition; the crosswind was from the right pushing the airplane toward the left. The airplane was about 1/3 down the runway when it departed the runway. The CFI's attempts to gain control of the airplane were unsuccessful due to the pilot not relinquishing the flight controls. The airplane came to a stop after impacting a small tree and brushes in the area adjacent to the runway. The CFI stated there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions to the airplane or any of its systems prior to the accident. Witnesses stated that they observed the accident airplane attempting an approach to the runway flying in an erratic matter. The airplane discontinued the approach and flew the pattern for another approach to the runway. The approach was again erratic. The airplane stalled and fell to the runway on its left wing. The airplane appeared pushed off the runway by the winds. The airplane came to rest in a grassy area off the left side of the runway.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.