CHARLOTTE, MI, USA
N68EV
Merlin GT
The pilot was conducting his second flight in the amateur-built airplane. He stated that he attempted to go around; however, a loss of airspeed occurred. The right main landing gear impacted the terrain followed by the airplane turning around and the tail impacting the ground.
On May 25, 1996, at 1145 eastern daylight time, an amateur built Merlin GT, N68EV, collided with terrain. The airplane was on the second flight when a go-around was attempted from an approach to runway 32 (2,318' x 100' dry/turf) at Fitch H. Beach Airport, near Charlotte, Michigan. The commercial pilot reported no injuries. There was no flight plan on file for the personal 14 CFR Part 91 flight. The flight was conducted in visual meteorological conditions. The flight departed at 1010. The pilot stated that a gust of wind required him to attempt to go around instead of continuing the landing. He said he encountered a loss of airspeed and the right main landing gear impacted the ground. The airplane then turned around and the tail impacted the terrain.
the pilot's failure to maintain airspeed. A factor was the pilot's lack of experience in the airplane.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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