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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

February 9, 2002 · Conrad Pulsar 582 · N3218N

Prescott, AZ

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
February 9, 2002
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (2 uninjured)
Location
Prescott, AZ
Aircraft
Conrad Pulsar 582
Tail Number
N3218N
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
LAX02LA081

The pilot landed the airplane hard on the nose landing gear, which collapsed; this was his first flight in this type of airplane. The pilot had recently purchased the airplane and this was his first flight in it. He had the previous owner sitting in the right seat for the familiarization flight. The airplane had a single control stick mounted between the two seats, and he was the sole manipulator of the controls. He took off and intended to stay in the traffic pattern to practice touch-and-go landings and reported that the winds were very gusty. On the first landing he made a short approach that was too fast. After the nose landing gear sheared off, the airplane slid across the runway before coming to rest. The pilot had about 100 hours total time in airplanes, primarily in the Cessna 182, and was flying on a student certificate without an endorsement for this airplane. The previous owner was a commercial pilot, but not a certified flight instructor.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot failed to maintain landing reference speed and aircraft control. A factor was the gusty wind conditions.

Full Narrative

On February 9, 2002, at 1402 mountain standard time, an experimental Conrad Pulsar 582, N3218N, landed hard, collapsing the nose landing gear, at Prescott, Arizona. The pilot/owner was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The student pilot and the second pilot, who held a commercial certificate, were not injured. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The personal local flight departed Prescott about 1350. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The pilot stated that he had recently purchased the airplane and this was his first flight in it. He had the previous owner sitting in the right seat for the familiarization flight. The airplane had a single control stick mounted between the two seats, and he was the sole manipulator of the controls. He took off and intended to stay in the traffic patter to practice touch-and-go landings and reported that the winds were very gusty. He said that on the first landing he made a short approach that was too fast. He landed the airplane hard on the nose landing gear, which collapsed. The airplane slid across the runway before coming to rest. The pilot said he had about 100 hours total time in airplanes, primarily in the Cessna 182. This was his first flight in this type of airplane. The pilot was flying on a student pilot certificate with no endorsement for this type of airplane. The previous owner was a commercial pilot but not a certified flight instructor.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time14:02 MST
Nearest AirportPRESCOTT (0nm)
Runway21R
Runway Length4846 ft
Runway Width60 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftConrad Pulsar 582
Tail NumberN3218N
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsRotax · 582 · Reciprocating · 66
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (2 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured2
Total2
Crew 1Age 49 · Third Class · None
Crew 2Third Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind40° @ 7 kt, gusting 15 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point48 / 0 C
Altimeter30.34 inHg
Observation Time21:06
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data