Bayport Aerodrome Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Bayport, New York 11705
Saturday, August 18, 2012 17:00 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that he returned to the departure airport after a brief local flight and entered the traffic pattern. While on final approach to the runway, he initiated a slip to the left to descend and increase his visibility of the runway. The pilot stated that during previous flights in the tailwheel-equipped biplane, after he exited the slip just before touchdown, the airplane would "float" down the runway in ground effect. However, when he exited the slip during the accident flight, the rate of descent remained constant, and the airplane's contact with the runway was "fairly severe." The landing gear subsequently collapsed, and the airplane departed the right side of the runway and nosed over, resulting in substantial damage to the right upper wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation, and that the accident could have been prevented by a "quicker reaction" and "increasing [engine] power to arrest descent rate."

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/18/2012
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1700
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Bayport
Event State NEW YORK
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 11705
Event Date Year 2012
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 404522N
Event Location Longitude 0730307W
Event Location Airport Bayport Aerodrome
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 23N
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 41
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1656 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 316
Weather Observation Facility ID ISP
Elevation of weather observation facility 99
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 3
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 3700
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Few
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) 26
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 16
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 340
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.83
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report METAR KISP 182056Z 34005KT 10SM FEW037 SCT050 SCT0
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 30863
NTSB Notification Source FAA EROCC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Dec 27 2012 12:27PM
User who most recently changed record kenj
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N343SF
NTSB Number ERA12CA520
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 FLEET
Aircraft Model FLEET 16B
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 343
Certified Max Gross Weight 1878
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats 2
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 Aug 4 2012 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 1
Airframe Hours 1635
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type C91-A
Aircraft Owner Name MARTIN STEPHEN S
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City HUNTINGTON STATION
Aircraft Owner State NY
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 11746-4545
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name MARTIN STEPHEN S
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City HUNTINGTON STATION
Operator State NY
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 11746-4545
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 Yes
Departure Airport Code 23N
Departure City Bayport
Departure State NY
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1700
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code 23N
Destination City Bayport
Destination State NY
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Dec 27 2012 12:28PM
User who most recently changed record kenj
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location 36
Runway Length 2740
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --