Orange Municipal Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Orange, Massachusetts 01364
Sunday, November 13, 1994 15:39 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT WAS ATTEMPTING TO LAND ON THE GRASS BESIDE RUNWAY 01. THE AIRPLANE LANDED HARD, BOUNCED, COLLAPSED THE MAIN LANDING GEAR, IMPACTED THE GROUND NOSE FIRST. THE PILOT WAS INJURED DURING THE IMPACT SEQUENCE WHEN HIS HEAD STRUCK THE CANOPY. ACCORDING TO THE FAA, RESCUE PERSONNEL, REPORTED THAT WHEN THEY ARRIVED AT THE CRASH SITE, THE PILOT WAS NOT BUCKLED TO THE SEAT, AND WAS SITTING ON THE SEAT BELTS.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's improper flare which resulted in a hard landing, collapse of the main gear, and inflight collision with the ground.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 11/13/1994
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1539
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City ORANGE
Event State MASSACHUSETTS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 01364
Event Date Year 1994
Event Date Month 11
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport ORANGE MUNICIPAL
Event Location Nearest Airport ID ORE
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 555
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Witness
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Unknown
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 0
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 1
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 962
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Nov 13 1994 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1616
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 6 2000 12:38PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N337RL
NTSB Number NYC95LA025
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name LEE
Aircraft Model PAZMANY PL-4A
Aircraft Series Identifier PAZMANY PL
Aircraft Serial Number 573
Certified Max Gross Weight 988
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? Yes
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 2
Airframe Hours 2
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name ROBERT LEE
Aircraft Owner Street Address 12 POUND ST.
Aircraft Owner City BILLERICA
Aircraft Owner State MA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 01821
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1530
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 1
Runway Length 5000
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --