Accident Details
On September 1, 2017, at approximately 1036 eastern daylight time, an experimental amateur-built Velocity SUV, registration N753GK, was substantially damaged during a landing attempt at Albert Whitted Airport (SPG) in St. Petersburg, Florida. The private pilot and a passenger were not injured. The aircraft was registered to a private company and operated under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. No flight plan had been filed for the flight, which had departed Sebastian Municipal Airport (X26) in Sebastian, Florida, around 0930.
The pilot reported being aware of cranes near the approach end of runway 18 and ensured sufficient altitude to clear them. The approach was steeper and faster than normal. The airplane touched down long, and instead of executing a go-around, the pilot continued the landing. The airplane subsequently exited the runway and entered Tampa Bay, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical issues with the airplane and that the accident was caused by his "bad choices" and a "mistake in judgment" to continue with the landing.
Pilot Information
The pilot held a private pilot certificate with a single-engine land rating. His most recent Federal Aviation Administration third-class medical certificate was issued on December 5, 2011. The pilot reported that his logbook was lost in the accident and estimated his total flight experience at 525 to 600 hours. He built the airplane in 2002 and began flying it in 2003, accumulating approximately 40 flight hours per year since then.
Aircraft Information
The Velocity SUV was an amateur-built experimental aircraft. The pilot noted that all maintenance logbooks and paperwork were lost in the accident. He did not recall the exact date of the last inspection but remembered completing an annual inspection in early 2017.
Weather Conditions
Weather recorded at the airport at 0953 included wind from 170 degrees at 6 knots, visibility 10 miles, clear skies, temperature 31°C, dew point 24°C, and an altimeter setting of 30.03 inches of mercury.