Amateur-built GN 1 AIRCAMPER accident near Defuniak Springs, Florida, April 23, 2016
On April 23, 2016 at about 12:30 pm local time, a 1991 amateur-built GN 1 AIRCAMPER, registered N437PT, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Defuniak Springs, Florida (Defuniak Springs 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 loss of directional control during the landing in gusting crosswind conditions resulting in a runway excursion, and the pilot's failure to attain a positive climb rate during the aborted landing and subsequent ground collision.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 23, 2016 · about 12:30 pm local time
- Place
- Defuniak Springs, Florida · Defuniak Springs · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built GN 1 AIRCAMPER NO SERIES, built 1991
- Registration
- N437PT · no longer on the register · serial 1359
- 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 of the tailwheel-equipped airplane, during the landing roll, the airplane encountered a crosswind gust and he applied right rudder. He reported that a subsequent wind gust lifted the right wing, triggering a ground loop to the right and the airplane exited the right side of the runway. He recalled that the airplane was headed for a water drainage catch basin and he decided to add full power, and attempt to fly out of the ground loop in an effort to avoid the catch basin. The right wheel of the airplane collided with the perimeter of the catch basin and the airplane spun to the right. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing lift strut. According to the nearest meteorological aerodrome report, 19 miles south, the wind about the time of the accident was variable at 3 knots. The pilot landed on runway 27. The pilot reported that there were not any mechanical anomalies or malfunctions with any portion the airplane prior to the accident that would have prevented normal flight operations.
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
- Attempted remediation/recovery during landing (landing roll)
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (aborted after touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Crosswind correction › Not attained/maintained
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Climb rate › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Effect on equipment
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Effect on equipment
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,143 hours in all; 58 in this make and model; 16 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 4,009 as pilot in command; 2,498 on instruments
- Last flight review: October 20, 2014
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,900 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, March 22, 2016
- Maximum gross weight: 1,153 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Contenintal C-90 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: EDN Enterprise AL at 12:30 pm
- Destination: 54J Defuniak Springs FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 4,146 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.01 inHg
- Observation at 12:53 pm from KCEW, 19 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on September 23, 2016. 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 | Photo | 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.
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.