Amateur-built BUCCANEER II accident near Clermont, Florida, August 19, 1989
On August 19, 1989 at about 6:30 pm local time, a amateur-built BUCCANEER II, registered N127FB, was substantially damaged in an accident near Clermont, Florida (Flying Gators Ultalight 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
IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT, WHICH RESULTED IN A SUBSEQUENT COLLISON WITH THE GROUND, WHEN THE ACFT WOULD NOT CLIMB AFTER TAKEOFF. THE HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS (TREES) AND HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE WERE CONSIDERED TO BE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 19, 1989 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Clermont, Florida · Flying Gators Ultalight
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built BUCCANEER II BUCCANEER
- Registration
- N127FB · no longer on the register · serial B2A 017
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT ELECTED TO TAKEOFF FROM A 1100 FT RWY ON A HOT/HUMID DAY WITH THE ACFT LOADED NEAR ITS MAX WEIGHT LIMIT. HE STATED THAT WHEN THE SPEED WAS ADEQUATE, HE ROTATED THE ACFT & IT LIFTED OFF. AFTER LIFT-OFF, HE REALIZED THE ACFT WOULD NOT CLEAR A TREE LINE NEAR THE END OF THE RWY. HE INITIATED A TURN TO AVOID THE TREES, WHICH RESULTED IN LOSS OF THE VERTICAL COMPONENT OF LIFT. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT DESCENDED, IMPACTED IN A VACANT FIELD & WAS DAMAGED. THE ENG OPERATED NORMALLY DRG A POST-ACDNT CHECK. THE TEMP, DEW POINT & ELEVATION AT THE AIRSTRIP WERE 90 DEG, 73 DEG & 30 FT, RESPECTIVELY. APRX 25 MI EAST AT ORLANDO (ELEV 96'), THE DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS ABOUT 2200 FT.
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: single-engine land
- Flight time: 201 hours in all; 120 in this make and model; 17 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 153 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,025 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Rotax 532LC (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 5, 1,100 ft by 70 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 4 knots, gusting 4
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Observation at 5:51 pm from MCO, 25 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.