Aviation Accident Summaries

Aviation Accident Summary NYC95LA025

ORANGE, MA, USA

Aircraft #1

N337RL

LEE PAZMANY PL-4A

Analysis

THE PILOT WAS ATTEMPTING TO LAND ON THE GRASS BESIDE RUNWAY 01. THE AIRPLANE LANDED HARD, BOUNCED, COLLAPSED THE MAIN LANDING GEAR, IMPACTED THE GROUND NOSE FIRST. THE PILOT WAS INJURED DURING THE IMPACT SEQUENCE WHEN HIS HEAD STRUCK THE CANOPY. ACCORDING TO THE FAA, RESCUE PERSONNEL, REPORTED THAT WHEN THEY ARRIVED AT THE CRASH SITE, THE PILOT WAS NOT BUCKLED TO THE SEAT, AND WAS SITTING ON THE SEAT BELTS.

Factual Information

On November 13, 1994, at 1539 eastern standard time, a Pazmany PL-4A, N337RL, an experimental airplane, owned and piloted by Robert W. Lee, was substantially damaged during a landing at the Orange Airport, Orange, Massachusetts. The pilot was fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The flight was operated under 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot was attempting to land on the grass beside Runway 01. The airplane landed hard, bounced, collapsed the main landing gear, and impacted the ground nose first. The pilot was injured during the impact sequence when his head struck the canopy. According to the FAA, rescue personnel, reported that when they arrived at the crash site, the pilot was not buckled to the seat, and was sitting on the seat belts. The pilot survived the accident but died of his injuries on November 19, 1994.

Probable Cause and Findings

The pilot's improper flare which resulted in a hard landing, collapse of the main gear, and inflight collision with the ground.

 

Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database

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