Amateur-built STOL CH750 accident near Lakeland, Florida, April 16, 2010
On April 16, 2010 at about 12:00 pm local time, a amateur-built STOL CH750, registered N148CK, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Lakeland, Florida (Lakeland Linder Regional airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's improper flare, which resulted in a nosegear collapse during landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 16, 2010 · about 12:00 pm local time · cases in 2010
- Place
- Lakeland, Florida · Lakeland Linder Regional · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built STOL CH750
- Registration
- N148CK · registry record · serial 75-7497
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was landing an experimental amateur-built airplane on a 1,500-foot temporary grass runway, which was created for an annual fly-in event. During landing, he deployed 5 degrees of flaps, reduced power about 5 feet above the runway, and while attempting to flare, felt he had no elevator authority. The nosegear impacted the ground first and collapsed, and the airplane settled on its left wing tip with damage to the left wing. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical problems with the airplane and that the airplane was not equipped with a stall warning device, nor was there an option to purchase and install one as a kit-item from the manufacturer. The pilot further stated that the accident landing was only the third time he had deployed the flaps for landing. A quartering headwind at 6 knots was reported 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
- Abnormal runway contact during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Landing gear collapse during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Incorrect use/operation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 887 hours in all; 45 in this make and model; 46 in the last 90 days; 28 in the last 30 days; 887 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 9, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 45 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, January 9, 2009
- Maximum gross weight: 1,320 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FL75 Fort Drum FL at 11:00 am
- Destination: KLAL Lakeland FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 09, 1,500 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 30.19 inHg
- Observation at 11:50 am from LAL, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on July 7, 2010. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot Interview Summary | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Weather Reports and Records | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N148CK on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Engine: Continental O-200A 297 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Lakeland Linder International · nearest airport
- Indian Hammock Airport · departed from
- Lakeland Linder International · bound for
- Accidents and incidents in Florida 6,111 since 1982 · 984 in the last ten years
- Florida 21,709 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/ERA10CA234.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.