Hobart Sky Ranch Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Hobart, Indiana 46342
Sunday, December 30, 2012 13:00 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that the airplane’s airspeed was about 20 mph slower than normal when he turned on final approach. After clearing obstructions at the end of the runway, the pilot started to flare for a landing when the airplane suddenly dropped and impacted the runway surface. The hard landing partially collapsed the left main landing gear and resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane and noted that the accident could have been prevented if he had maintained a safe airspeed.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate airspeed during landing, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and subsequent hard landing.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 12/30/2012
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1300
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City Hobart
Event State INDIANA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 46342
Event Date Year 2012
Event Date Month 12
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 413309N
Event Location Longitude 0871527W
Event Location Airport Hobart Sky Ranch Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 3HO
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 644
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1245 Central Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 340
Weather Observation Facility ID KGYY
Elevation of weather observation facility 591
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 8
Time Zone of the weather observation CST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 25000
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) 1
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -6
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 210
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.28
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
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 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 31029
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 7 2013 3:44PM
User who most recently changed record bowl
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N641TD
NTSB Number CEN13CA120
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
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 ROBIDOUX LIONEL
Aircraft Model WITTMAN W 10
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 456
Certified Max Gross Weight 1450
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 May 26 2012 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 26
Airframe Hours 790
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name KEITH DORNSEIF
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City MERRILLVILLE
Aircraft Owner State IN
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 46410-7408
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name KEITH A DORNSEIF
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City MERRILLVILLE
Operator State IN
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 46410-7408
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 3HO
Departure City Hobart
Departure State IN
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1130
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code 3HO
Destination City Hobart
Destination State IN
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 7 2013 8:52AM
User who most recently changed record latt
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 18
Runway Length 3125
Runway Width 40
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --