Amateur-built SPORTSMAN 2 + 2 accident near Grand Junction, Tennessee, August 22, 1999
On August 22, 1999 at about 3:00 pm local time, a amateur-built SPORTSMAN 2 + 2, registered N116ML, was substantially damaged in an accident near Grand Junction, Tennessee (Peterson Ranch Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The improper spoiler extension by the passenger following the bounced landing, which resulted in the hard landing and collapse of the left main landing gear.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 22, 1999 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- Grand Junction, Tennessee · Peterson Ranch Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built SPORTSMAN 2 + 2 SPORTSMAN
- Registration
- N116ML · registry record · serial 979
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated the right front seat passenger deployed the spoilers during the flare to land causing a hard landing. The passenger retracted then redployed the spoilers when the airplane bounced. The airplane landed hard collapsing the left main landing gear then collided with terrain. The right front seat passenger stated that he deployed the spoilers after the airplane landed and may have retracted them momentarily but activated them again. The pilot did not apply power and the airplane landed then veered off the runway. He stated 'in retrospect, he probably shouldn't have kept the spoilers out after bouncing', and he previously agreed with the pilot to keep the spoilers deployed once activated. The rear seat passenger who had a clear view of the 'D ring' which activates the spoilers stated the airplane landed hard then bounced. Only following the bounce, did he see the right front passenger activate the spoilers. Examination of the site by an FAA inspector revealed the airplane came to rest in a ditch off the left side of the runway, approximately 800-1,000 feet from the approach end of the runway. The airplane was equipped with spoilers installed in the upper side of both wings.
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; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 970 hours in all; 487 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 888 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 487 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 23, 1999; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Ford 4.2 LITER V6 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 54M Rossville TN at 2:45 pm
- Destination: 6TN7
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 8, 3,000 ft by 200 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 pm from MEM, 20 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.
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 documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text 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 MIA99LA236.