Eclipse EA500 crash, Jun 1, 2011, Nome
Eclipse EA500 accident on June 1, 2011 near Nome, Alaska, United States with no fatalities. Cause: The pilot landed without lowering the landing gear....
- Date: June 1, 2011
- Aircraft: Eclipse EA500
- Location: Nome, Alaska, United States
- Fatalities: 0
- Phase of flight: Approach and landing
- Cause: The pilot landed without lowering the landing gear. Contributing was his decision to fly the airplane with an inoperative wing flap system.
A privately operated Eclipse EA500 flew to Nome with its flaps inoperative, despite the flight manual prohibition, and attempted a no-flap approach. After a go-around the fuselage struck the runway, and the pilot landed with gear lowered only after realizing it was still up. Next day a test flight was aborted due to severe vibration, and a cracked center wing carry-through was found. Both occupants were uninjured.