What happened
On May 2, 2024, at approximately 1404 EDT, an experimental amateur-built AirCam aircraft, registration N848HP, was involved in an accident near DeLand, Florida. The aircraft was operating under 14 CFR Part 91 for personal use.
Data from FAA ADS-B and airport audio recordings indicate the flight departed Spruce Creek Airport in Daytona Beach, Florida, approximately 11 minutes prior to the accident, traveling west toward DeLand Municipal Airport-Sidney H Taylor Field (DED). During the flight, an unidentified aircraft queried the active runway at DED and was informed it was runway 5.
The N848HP was observed flying north of DED at a barometric altitude of 600 feet. While performing a slight left turn and descending, a nearby pilot observed the amphibious airplane begin to flare too high and rotate around its vertical axis to the left. The aircraft quickly lost altitude and struck the ground. The accident site was located approximately 120 feet southeast of the final ADS-B target and roughly 0.7 nautical miles from the approach end of runway 12 at DED. There were no distress calls recorded on the DED common traffic advisory frequency.
The pilot sustained 1 serious injury and was airlifted to a hospital by first responders.