Amateur-built VL-3C-1 accident near Northampton, Massachusetts, November 24, 2017
On November 24, 2017 at about 1:00 pm local time, a 2009 amateur-built VL-3C-1, registered N876MB, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Northampton, Massachusetts (Northampton 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 improper landing flare, which resulted in a loss of directional control and subsequent impact with approach lighting.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 24, 2017 · about 1:00 pm local time
- Place
- Northampton, Massachusetts · Northampton · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built VL-3C-1 NO SERIES, built 2009
- Registration
- N876MB · no longer on the register · serial VL-3-29
- 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, during the landing flare the airplane was fast, and he tried to bleed off the airspeed by applying back pressure, but the airplane ballooned. Upon touchdown the airplane porpoised, after which, the airplane veered to the left and exited the left side of the runway. The airplane impacted the visual approach slope indicator lights that were located on the left side of the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and the fuselage. 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
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
- Abnormal runway contact during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Not attained/maintained
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Runway/taxi/approach light › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: sport pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 156.3 hours in all; 17.1 in this make and model; 3.5 in the last 90 days; 1.5 in the last 30 days; 129.5 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: December 15, 2015
- Medical certificate: Sport Pilot (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 142.5 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 15, 2017
- Maximum gross weight: 1,320 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 912 ULS (piston); 142 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KCEF Chicopee MA at 12:30 pm
- Destination: 7B2 Northampton MA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 14, 3,335 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 25°F (-4°C), dew point 23°F (-5°C)
- Altimeter: 30.02 inHg
- Observation at 12:56 pm from KCEF, 8 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 May 7, 2018. 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 | Photos (Courtesy of FAA) | PDF, 2 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.