Amateur-built SH-2R accident near Panama City, Florida, September 5, 1998
On September 5, 1998 at about 3:08 pm local time, a amateur-built SH-2R, registered N534TS, was destroyed in an accident near Panama City, Florida (Sandy Creek Airpark airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain a proper descent rate during a precautionary landing following a loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 5, 1998 · about 3:08 pm local time
- Place
- Panama City, Florida · Sandy Creek Airpark · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built SH-2R
- Registration
- N534TS · no longer on the register · serial 534
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Eye witnesses stated that during takeoff, the engine sputtered and seemed to smooth out. The pilot entered a shallow left bank, climbed to about 500 to 600 feet, agl, disappeared from sight behind a tree line, and reemerged in a shallow right bank for a landing in the opposite direction. The pilot overshot the runway centerline, entered a steep bank to correct, and began a descent for landing while still aligning for landing. The airplane was then observed to assume the landing attitude at 50 to 75 feet, agl, and hold that attitude until very hard touchdown left of the grass runway. The three landing gear collapsed, the wings flexed extensively, spewing fuel, and the airplane skidded up onto the runway and burned.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,800 hours in all; 1 in this make and model; 1,335 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, July 24, 1998; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,100 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D1A (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: 75FL at 3:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 3,800 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 pm from PFN, 15 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.