Amateur-built Classic IV accident near East Moriches, New York, February 14, 2002
On February 14, 2002 at about 6:30 pm local time, a amateur-built Classic IV, registered N767PG, was substantially damaged in an accident near East Moriches, New York (Lufker Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's improper recovery from a bounced landing, which resulted in a loss of directional control. A contributing factor was the pilot's lack of experience in aircraft type.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 14, 2002 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- East Moriches, New York · Lufker Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Classic IV
- Registration
- N767PG · registry record · serial C9709-0206
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was practicing high-speed taxi runs in an airplane he had never flown before, when it inadvertently became airborne. He continued with the takeoff, remained in the traffic pattern, and set up for a full-stop landing. During the touchdown, the airplane bounced slightly and the pilot added power to soften the bounce. The airplane became airborne again, banked to the left, and impacted the ground in a nose-low attitude. The pilot reported no mechanical deficiencies with the airplane.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 400 hours in all; 0 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 305 as pilot in command; 101 on instruments
- Last flight review: August 4, 2000
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: condition inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 1,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 912 UL (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: O00 East Moriches NY at 6:30 pm
- Destination: O00 East Moriches NY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 360, 2,300 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 32°F (0°C), dew point 12°F (-11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.39 inHg
- Observation at 6:53 pm from FOK, 6 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.