Amateur-built LONG-EZ accident near Spring Hill, Florida, February 11, 1999
On February 11, 1999 at about 5:35 pm local time, a amateur-built LONG-EZ, registered N96LH, was substantially damaged in an accident near Spring Hill, Florida (Pilot Country airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The failure of the pilot to insure the canopy was closed prior to takeoff resulting in an aborted takeoff, overheating of the brakes, and a roll over when the aircraft was turned off the runway into the grass in an attempt to stop.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 11, 1999 · about 5:35 pm local time
- Place
- Spring Hill, Florida · Pilot Country · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built LONG-EZ
- Registration
- N96LH · registry record · serial 001
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that he was about 1/3 of the way down the runway on takeoff when he noticed that the canopy might not be closed. He aborted the takeoff and about 3/4 of the way down the runway, the wheel brakes became effective. He turned off the runway into the grass and the main landing gear grabbed. The aircraft turned sideways and then rolled over to an inverted position, coming to rest on a taxiway.
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: 406 hours in all; 205 in this make and model; 29 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 297 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 205 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 6, 1998; 125 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,420 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: X05 at 5:35 pm
- Destination: PIE St. Petersburg FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 3,700 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,400 ft
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:56 pm from TPA, 21 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number MIA99LA077.