Ernest J. Love Field Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Prescott, Arizona 86301
Wednesday, April 12, 1995 16:25 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT WAS CONDUCTING A LOCAL VFR TEST FLIGHT FOLLOWING A NEW WEIGHT AND BALANCE ON THE AIRPLANE. THE PILOT SAID THAT AFTER FLYING OVER THE AIRPORT BETWEEN 15 AND 20 MINUTES, HE ENTERED THE TRAFFIC PATTERN. HE SAID THAT HE WAS UNABLE TO STABILIZE THE AIRPLANE ON THE INITIAL APPROACH AND THAT IT CONTINUED TO VIOLENTLY PITCH UP AND DOWN. HE EXECUTED A GO-AROUND AND REENTERED THE TRAFFIC PATTERN. HE SAID HE WAS UNABLE TO STABILIZE THE AIRPLANE ON THE SECOND APPROACH AND THE AIRPLANE STALLED AND SUSTAINED A HARD LANDING. THE PILOT SAID THAT AFTER THE ACCIDENT HE REALIZED THAT THE ELEVATOR TRIM TAB WAS SET TO THE AFT POSITION. HE ALSO INDICATED IN THE ACCIDENT REPORT THAT THE AIRPLANE DID NOT EXPERIENCE ANY PREIMPACT MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS OR FAILURES.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the pilot's failure to attain a stabilized approach due to an improper elevator trim setting resulting in an improper flare.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/12/1995
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1625
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City PRESCOTT
Event State ARIZONA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 86301
Event Date Year 1995
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport ERNEST J. LOVE FIELD
Event Location Nearest Airport ID PRC
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 5042
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1625 Mountain Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID PRC
Elevation of weather observation facility 5042
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation MST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 25000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Thin Broken
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 65
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 22
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -4
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 180
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 225
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Apr 12 1995 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1732
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 7 2000 4:12PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N24KB
NTSB Number LAX95LA159
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 K. A. COVINGTON
Aircraft Model LANCAIR 320
Aircraft Series Identifier LANCAIR 32
Aircraft Serial Number 451-320-200
Certified Max Gross Weight 1685
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 Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Sep 9 1994 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 3
Airframe Hours 63
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name RICE, WARREN H.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 2250 WESTWIND ROAD
Aircraft Owner City CHINO VALLEY
Aircraft Owner State AZ
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 86323
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 PRC
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1550
Departure Time Zone MST
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 11
Runway Length 4408
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --