MIA04CA003

Factual narrative

On October 15, 2003, about 1500 eastern daylight time, a William F. Lair RV-6A, N710WL, registered to and operated by a private individual as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, made a hard landing at page Field, Fort Myers, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The commercial-rated pilot was not injured, and the airplane incurred substantial damage. The flight originated in Labelle, Florida, the same day, about 1440. The pilot stated that while practicing landings at Page Field he made the first touch-and-go landing, and then remained closed traffic with the intent to perform another landing. He said that the second landing was "somewhat abrupt", which caused the airplane to rebound in the air, and he did not get engine power applied in sufficient time to prevent another "abrupt" touchdown, which caused the nose landing gear strut to collapse, and the airplane incurred damage to the firewall and the left wing. The pilot also stated that prior to the accident there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions to the airplane or any of its systems. The pilot stated that while practicing touch-and-go landings, the second landing was "somewhat abrupt", which caused the airplane to rebound in the air. He said he did not get engine power applied in sufficient time to prevent another "abrupt" touchdown, which caused the nose landing gear strut to collapse. According to the pilot, prior to the accident there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions to the airplane or any of its systems. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12