Duke Paul CHALLENGER II N4340D

Summary

On 24 September 2009 at about 22:15 local time, a Duke Paul CHALLENGER II registered N4340D was involved in an accident near Lumberton, Mississippi, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

24 September 2009 at 22:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Lumberton, Mississippi, United States

Coordinates

31.0589, -89.4114

Aircraft

Duke Paul CHALLENGER II

Registration

N4340D

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Lumberton → Lumberton

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA09LA536

1 person died.

The non-certificated pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from trees during a go-around procedure for unknown reasons.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

A witness observed the non-certificated pilot attempt to land the experimental amateur-built airplane two to three times, but each time as the airplane approached the engine power increased as the plane circled around for another attempt. On the last landing attempt and go-around, the witness did not hear the same engine power increase. He saw the left main landing gear strike a tree top, and the airplane banked to the left, diving into the trees. The airplane was found inverted in a wooded area, with the propeller splintered down to the hub. The wreckage was partially consumed by a postcrash fire. An examination of the wreckage did not reveal any anomalies with the airframe or engine, though control continuity could not be established. No aircraft maintenance records, current registration, or pilot logs were found. A relative reported that the pilot had been involved in an incident in the airplane 2 months prior to the accident, after which he had replaced the climb performance three-blade composite propeller with a cruise performance two-blade wooden propeller.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.