Amateur-built LIGHTNING accident near Crescent City, Florida, January 30, 2011
On January 30, 2011 at about 8:45 pm local time, a amateur-built LIGHTNING, registered N324AL, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Crescent City, Florida (Eagles Nest Aerodrome 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 and failure to recover from a bounced landing which resulted in a runway excursion.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 30, 2011 · about 8:45 pm local time
- Place
- Crescent City, Florida · Eagles Nest Aerodrome · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built LIGHTNING
- Registration
- N324AL · registry record · serial 59
- 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, on the first approach to land the airplane's speed was too fast and he elected to perform a go-around. On the second approach, the airspeed was too fast again and the airplane bounced twice upon landing. He applied full power in an attempt to abort the landing. During the takeoff, the left main landing gear separated from the airplane and it veered off the left side of the runway. The airplane impacted an embankment and a tree resulting in substantial damage to the left wing and fuselage. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no anomalies and the pilot reported no mechanical failures or malfunctions.
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)
- Loss of control on ground during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,967 hours in all; 140 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 1,848 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 4, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 347 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 13, 2010
- Maximum gross weight: 1,425 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Jabiru 3300 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: DCY Decatur AL at 5:30 pm
- Destination: FD44 Crescent City FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 3,200 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.14 inHg
- Observation at 8:50 pm from XFL, 21 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.