Amateur-built PARAKEET accident near Fernandina Bch, Florida, August 26, 1994
On August 26, 1994 at about 3:45 pm local time, a amateur-built PARAKEET, registered N163MS, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fernandina Bch, Florida (Fernandina Beach 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 IMPROPER FLARE BY THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND RESULTING IN THE HARD LANDING, AND THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO PERFORM A RECOVERY FROM THE BOUNCED LANDING. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL TIME IN THIS TYPE AIRPLANE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 26, 1994 · about 3:45 pm local time
- Place
- Fernandina Bch, Florida · Fernandina Beach · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built PARAKEET
- Registration
- N163MS · registry record
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PRIVATE PILOT OF THE EXPERIMENTAL AIRPLANE WAS EXECUTING MULTIPLE TOUCH-AND-GO LANDINGS, AND HAD A TOTAL OF 2 HOURS EXPERIENCE IN THE AIRPLANE. HE STATED THAT ON HIS FINAL APPROACH HE FLARED HIGH, LANDED HARD, AND THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER.
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: 1,324 hours in all; 2 in this make and model; 18 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 1,169 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 30, 1993
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:54 pm from JAX
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.