MIA98LA245

Factual narrative

On September 10, 1998, about 1500 eastern daylight time, a Glasair SH2 experimental airplane, N51AJ, registered to a private individual, operating as a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, crashed on a golf course near Holly Hill, South Carolina. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The airplane was destroyed. The private-rated pilot reported serious injuries. The flight originated from a private airstrip, at an unknown time. According to the FAA inspector's statement, "...witnesses stated that the aircraft landed long and could not make a complete stop on the available runway. The aircraft bounced three times and on the third bounce [the pilot] lowered the tail wheel the main landing gear came off the ground, indicating too much airspeed...[the pilot] attempted a go around and powered up with 300 feet of runway remaining. He attempted to clear trees at the end of the runway by pulling abruptly then pushing the nose over after clearing the trees. At this point the engine quit momentarily, most likely due to the negative G's applied during this maneuver." The airplane impacted the ground on fairway No. 3 at Holly Hill Golf Course, and came to rest at the base of a pine tree. Examination of the wreckage revealed that no obvious discrepancies were found in the fuel system or the engine. Blue fuel was found, and examination of the carburetor and fuel pump did not show any discrepancies. The FAA inspector stated, "...the pilot was released from the hospital on September 20, 1998. All attempts to talk to [him] have failed...it appears after checking with Airman and Aircraft records [the pilot] was operating his aircraft with a non-current registration and with a denied medical." The pilot did not return the NTSB Form 6120.1/2, and his account of the accident is not known. The pilot had landed, and elected to abort and go around. According to witnesses, the airplane had landed long and could not make a complete stop on the available runway. The aircraft bounced three times and on the third bounce the pilot lowered the tail wheel, and the main landing gear came off the ground., The pilot attempted a go around and powered up with 300 feet of runway remaining. He attempted to clear trees at the end of the runway by pulling the nose up abruptly, then pushing the nose over after clearing the trees. At this point the engine quit momentarily. The airplane impacted the ground on fairway No. 3 at a golf course, and came to rest at the base of a pine tree. Examination of the wreckage revealed that no obvious discrepancies were found in the fuel system or the engine. Fuel was found, and examination of the carburetor and fuel pump did not show any discrepancies. The FAA inspector stated, '...the pilot was released from the hospital on September 20, 1998. All attempts to talk to [him] have failed...it appears after checking with Airman and Aircraft records [the pilot] was operating his aircraft with a non-current registration and with a denied medical.' The pilot did not return the NTSB Form 6120.1/2, and his account of the accident are not known. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12