Gemini Int'L. HUMINGBIRD accident near Lakeland, Florida, March 19, 1983
On March 19, 1983 at about 11:45 pm local time, a Gemini Int'L. HUMINGBIRD, registered N3147G, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lakeland, Florida (Lakeland Municiapl airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 19, 1983 · about 11:45 pm local time
- Place
- Lakeland, Florida · Lakeland Municiapl
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Gemini Int'L. HUMINGBIRD
- Registration
- N3147G · no longer on the register · serial 113
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT LANDED HARD AND COLLAPSED THE NOSE GEAR AFTER ONE ENGINE FAILED DURING TAKEOFF. THE ACFT HAD MADE ONE TAKEOFF AND LANDING AND WAS BEGINNING A SECOND. AS THE ACFT ROTATED THE LEFT ENGINE FAILED DUE TO THE THROTTLE LINKAGE BECOMING DISCONNECTED. THE ACFT THEN NOSED OVER AND LANDED HARD ON THE NOSE GEAR AFTER THE PILOT CUT THE POWER TO THE RIGHT ENGINE. THE PILOT WAS THROWN FORWARD AS THE ACFT NOSED DOWN AND HE INADVERTENTLY PUSHED THE RT THROTTLE. THIS ENGINE WENT TO FULL POWER AND THE PASSENGERS HAND WAS FORCED FORWARD INTO THE RT PROPELLER. HE RECEIVED SERIOUS INJURY TO HIS HAND. THE PILOT WAS NOT INJURED. THIS ACFT WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH SHOULDER HARNESS WHICH WOULD HAVE PREVENTED THE INJURY. THE ACCIDENT POINTED OUT THE NEED AND A RETROFIT SHOULDER HARNESS WAS PROVIDED BY THE MANUFACTURER ON AN EXCHANGE OR SALE BASIS. THE ACFT IS A REGISTERED ULTRALIGHT TYPE VEHICLE.
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: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 300 hours in all; 200 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 250 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 120 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 1, 1982
- Maximum gross weight: 600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Solo 6120 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:49 pm from PIE, 36 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.