Mount Vernon Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Mt. Vernon, Illinois 62864
Thursday, September 17, 2009 10:30 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that, during the landing attempt at the destination airport, the airplane got "...caught by a gust of wind..." during touchdown. As the gust subsided, the plane landed hard in a nose-down, right-wing-low attitude. The airplane's right wing separated and the firewall became damaged, resulting in substantial damage. The pilot further stated that, had he been aware of any turbulence or gusting winds, he would have not made the flight. A witness stated that the pilot obtained and received wind and runway information via the common traffic advisory frequency. Upon the pilot's initial request for wind information, he was advised that winds were 050 degrees at 8 knots and later advised that winds were 090 degrees at 12 knots following his second request for wind information.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's improper landing flare while landing with gusting winds and his failure to perform a go-around.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/17/2009
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1030
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Mt. Vernon
Event State ILLINOIS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 62864
Event Date Year 2009
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 381924n
Event Location Longitude 0885131w
Event Location Airport Mount Vernon Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID MVN
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 --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1036 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID MVN
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
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) 22
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 12
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 40
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 11
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.1
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 26265
NTSB Notification Source FAA-AGL-ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Nov 4 2009 6:00PM
User who most recently changed record dinc
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4DD
NTSB Number CEN09CA589
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? Yes
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Diehl
Aircraft Model KR-2
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 001
Certified Max Gross Weight 1200
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
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 Conditional
Date of Last Inspection Aug 8 2008 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 1850
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name Pilot
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Indianapolis
Aircraft Owner State IN
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode --
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Pilot
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Indianapolis
Operator State IN
Operator Country USA
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 --
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 No
Departure Airport Code HUF
Departure City Indianapolis
Departure State IN
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 900
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code MVN
Destination City Mt. Vernon
Destination State IL
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Oct 13 2009 4:34PM
User who most recently changed record galm
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location 05
Runway Length 6496
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --