Paradise USA LLC PARADISE P-1 SLSA LW accident near Plant City, Florida, November 17, 2009
On November 17, 2009 at about 9:30 pm local time, a Paradise USA LLC PARADISE P-1 SLSA LW, registered N917ZZ, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Plant City, Florida (Plant City Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's improper flare while landing, which resulted in a hard landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 17, 2009 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Plant City, Florida · Plant City Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Paradise USA LLC PARADISE P-1 SLSA LW · all PARADISE P-1 SLSA LWs on the register
- Registration
- N917ZZ · no longer on the register · serial 0095
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the special light sport airplane had completed an uneventful full-stop landing and was conducting a second full-stop landing on the asphalt runway. During the landing flare, the left wing dropped slightly and the airplane landed hard. The left main landing gear separated and the airplane came to rest on grass after veering off the left side of the runway. The airplane incurred damage to to the horizontal stabilator. The pilot stated that he did not experience any mechanical malfunctions during the accident. The wind was reported as calm about the time of the accident.
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
- Hard landing during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Incorrect use/operation
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 162 hours in all; 51 in this make and model; 35 in the last 90 days; 14 in the last 30 days; 61 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 1, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 90 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, November 17, 2009
- Maximum gross weight: 1,320 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 912ULS (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PCM Plant City FL at 9:25 pm
- Destination: PCM Plant City FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28, 3,948 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 29.97 inHg
- Observation at 9:25 pm from PCM
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ERA10CA069.