Amateur-built LANCAIR accident near Milton, Florida, March 28, 2009
On March 28, 2009 at about 9:15 pm local time, a amateur-built LANCAIR, registered N320J, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Milton, Florida (Peter Prince Field Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 28, 2009 · about 9:15 pm local time
- Place
- Milton, Florida · Peter Prince Field Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built LANCAIR 235/320
- Registration
- N320J · no longer on the register · serial JP1987
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Following a local flight, the pilot attempted to land on runway 18. The pilot reported that, approximately 10 feet above the runway, a gust of wind caused the right wing to rise "about 30 degrees from level." Even though the pilot added power, "and put the ailerons and rudder full right," the airplane "did not respond" and veered to the left. The airplane impacted the ground to the left of the runway, substantially damaging the wings, tail, fuselage, and engine. The pilot sustained minor injury. The airport had an automated surface observing system (ASOS); however, it did not have the ability to record weather observations. The pilot stated that the ASOS reported "windshear" before his departure and that the winds were from 210 degrees at 10 knots with gusts to 25 knots. The reported weather at nearby airports included gusty winds from the southwest, between 9 and 24 knots, before and after the accident. One of these airports reported a peak wind of 28 knots from 240 degrees approximately 4 minutes after the accident. The pilot reported that the pilot's operating handbook for the airplane stated that the maximum demonstrated crosswind was "20 knots."
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Other weather encounter during landing
- Loss of control in flight during landing defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › (general) › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,723 hours in all; 588 in this make and model; 1 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 1,526 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 5, 2007
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,723 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 11, 2008
- Maximum gross weight: 1,465 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 2R4 Milton FL at 9:00 pm
- Destination: 2R4 Milton FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 3,701 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 242° at 28 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:34 pm from NSE, 5 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.