Amateur-built ELITE accident near Winter Haven, Florida, May 30, 2022
On May 30, 2022 at about 4:45 pm local time, a 2010 amateur-built ELITE, registered N136WF, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Winter Haven, Florida (Winter Haven Rgnl airport). It was an instructional 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).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s improper flare and inadequate application of power during landing, resulting in a hard landing and substantial damage to the airplane.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 30, 2022 · about 4:45 pm local time
- Place
- Winter Haven, Florida · Winter Haven Rgnl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built ELITE, built 2010
- Registration
- N136WF · no longer on the register · serial 630E
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot, who was the amphibious airplane’s owner and possessed single engine land and sea ratings, was receiving instruction on takeoffs and landings. The flight instructor reported that the approach to the runway was normal; however, the pilot flared too high. The instructor verbally commanded power, but the pilot did not respond appropriately, and the airplane landed hard on the runway. The left, front wheel separated, the airplane departed the runway surface, struck a trench, and came to rest inverted. There were no injuries. An inspector with the Federal Aviation Administration examined the wreckage and determined that the damage to the fuselage was substantial. The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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 defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Student/instructed pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 165 hours in all; 16 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 64 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 2, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,151 hours in all; 5 in this make and model; 65 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 1,934 as pilot in command; 1,680 on instruments
- Last flight review: August 28, 2020
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 164 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, October 12, 2021; 12 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,900 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360 (piston); 163 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 5, 5,005 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.01 inHg
- Observation at 12:53 pm from KGIF
Weather report (METAR): METAR KGIF 291653Z AUTO VRB03KT 10SM CLR 32/19 A3001 RMK AO2 SLP160 T03170189
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on August 17, 2022. 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, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photo Array | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.