Amateur-built TANGO 2 accident near Yulee, Florida, October 9, 2022
On October 9, 2022 at about 9:55 pm local time, a 2006 amateur-built TANGO 2, registered N55XT, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Yulee, Florida (Nassau Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s improper landing flare which resulted in a hard, bounced landing that damaged the nose landing gear, resulting in an inability to maintain directional control and subsequent runway excursion.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 9, 2022 · about 9:55 pm local time
- Place
- Yulee, Florida · Nassau Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built TANGO 2 NO SERIES, built 2006
- Registration
- N55XT · registry record · serial T-022
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that during the approach to land the wind abruptly died down and the airplane began to sink as he passed over trees. He applied throttle to stop the airplane’s descent, but during the flare to land, the airplane was too fast and bounced on touchdown. The nose landing gear was damaged during the first bounce and the pilot was then unable to maintain directional control of the airplane. After departing the left side of the runway the airplane struck a fence and sustained substantial damage to both wings. The pilot 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 (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll)
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 214 hours in all; 31 in this make and model; 28 in the last 90 days; 24 in the last 30 days; 121 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 5, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,489 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, February 25, 2022
- Maximum gross weight: 2,000 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Teledyne Mattituck TMX O-360 B63 (piston); 1,520 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GPC Greencastle IN at 2:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 30, 3,150 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.11 inHg
- Observation at 5:55 pm from FHB, 4 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KFHB 092155Z AUTO 07009KT 10SM CLR 25/21 A3011 RMK AO2
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on February 6, 2023. 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 | Memorandum for Record A�� Telephone Interview, Pilot | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Investigative Photographs | PDF, 5 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.