Amateur-built HUMMEL BIRD accident near Hollywood, Florida, October 18, 2010
On October 18, 2010 at about 3:22 pm local time, a amateur-built HUMMEL BIRD, registered N824RS, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Hollywood, Florida (North Perry 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 inadequate flare, which resulted in a hard landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 18, 2010 · about 3:22 pm local time
- Place
- Hollywood, Florida · North Perry Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built HUMMEL BIRD
- Registration
- N824RS · registry record · serial 304A
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, he had completed a takeoff and flew the airplane around the traffic pattern without incident. He configured the airplane on a stable approach to runway 09, compensating for a crosswind by positioning the airplane into a left crab angle. As the airplane approached the runway threshold, the pilot applied right rudder and left aileron to align with the runway centerline and prevent drifting to the right. The pilot stated that he over corrected for the crosswind condition and the airplane began to drift to the left. The airplane touched down hard and the left main landing gear bent laterally. As the right main landing gear touched down, the airplane became unstable and veered to the right. The airplane collided with a runway sign, resulting in substantial damage to the right wing and fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical anomalies with the airplane. The wind reported at the airport about the time of the accident were from 04 degrees at 7 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
- Abnormal runway contact during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
- 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 › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 550 hours in all; 200 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 505 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 13, 2010
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 200 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 600 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Ama/Expr UNKNOWN ENG (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HWO Hollywood FL at 3:00 pm
- Destination: HWO Hollywood FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 09, 3,255 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 040° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.09 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 pm from HWO
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.
Other NTSB records under N824RS the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.