Amateur-built LONG-EZ accident near West Chester, Pennsylvania, June 11, 2000
On June 11, 2000 at about 8:30 pm local time, a amateur-built LONG-EZ, registered N5534V, was substantially damaged in an accident near West Chester, Pennsylvania (Brandywine Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Was the failure of the pilot to attain his proper touchdown point. Factors were the downdraft and rising terrain leading to the runway.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 11, 2000 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- West Chester, Pennsylvania · Brandywine Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built LONG-EZ
- Registration
- N5534V · no longer on the register · serial 939
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was making a shallow approach to a 3,347-foot long runway with reduced power, and a headwind of about 10 knots, while attempting to land on the numbers. Lower terrain preceded the runway. On short final, the pilot encountered sinking air. He added full power and applied full up elevator. However, the airplane continued to descend and touched down prior to reaching the end of the runway, on terrain that was lower than the runway. The airplane slid onto the runway and stopped. The pilot reported there were no problems with the airplane.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,100 hours in all; 110 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 932 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 2000; 5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,420 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-290 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: N99 at 8:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 3,347 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 93°F (34°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:54 pm from PHL, 17 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.