Lakeland-Linder Regional Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Lakeland, Florida 33811
Monday, April 9, 2001 18:40 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The passenger stated the deceased pilot applied full power and started the takeoff roll on runway 09. Review of the surface weather observation for the airport revealed the pilot was taking off with a tailwind. A short time later the pilot was observed by the passenger to pull back on the flight controls to rotate, and the tail collided with the ground slowing the airplane down. The pilot lowered the nose in an attempt to regain airspeed and attempted to rotate again with the same results. He repeated his actions one more time with negative results. The passenger observed the end of the runway approaching. The pilot said something, but he could not understand him. The pilot pulled the throttle back, but did not apply any brakes before the airplane went off the end of the runway and collided with a ditch. Examination of the airframe, flight controls, engine assembly and accessories revealed no evidence of a precrash mechanical failure or malfunction.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's delay in aborting the takeoff in a downwind condition resulting in an overrun and subsequent collision with a ditch. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's failure to conduct performance planning for the flight.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/9/2001
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1840
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City Lakeland
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 33811
Event Date Year 2001
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport Lakeland-Linder Regional
Event Location Nearest Airport ID LAL
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 142
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1850 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID LAL
Elevation of weather observation facility 142
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 1200
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 28
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 17
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 330
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.02
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal 1
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 10560
NTSB Notification Source Lakeland Safety Center
NTSB Notification Date Apr 9 2001 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1841
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record May 18 2010 11:50AM
User who most recently changed record johb
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Orlando FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N696DH
NTSB Number MIA01LA120
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Henry
Aircraft Model Pelican
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 532
Certified Max Gross Weight 1250
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 Annual
Date of Last Inspection Feb 20 2001 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 260
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Richard C. Henry
Aircraft Owner Street Address 10630 S Tropical Trail
Aircraft Owner City Merritt Island
Aircraft Owner State FL
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 32952
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Pierre R. Legare
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 1110 Rue Estelle
Operator City St-Jovite
Operator State --
Operator Country CA
Operator Zip code --
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 LAL
Departure City Lakeland
Departure State FL
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1840
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 Takeoff - roll/run
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record May 18 2010 11:55AM
User who most recently changed record johb
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 09
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --