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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

May 15, 1994 · Davis DK-1 · N158Y

East Haddam, CT

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
May 15, 1994
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (2 uninjured)
Location
East Haddam, CT
Aircraft
Davis DK-1
Tail Number
N158Y
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
NYC94LA080

WITNESSES SAW THE AIRPLANE MAKE AN APPROACH TO RUNWAY 14, LAND SHORT OF THE RUNWAY, STRIKE ONE OF A SERIES OF 2 FEET HIGH FENCE POSTS SEPARATED THE BOUNDARY BETWEEN THE AIRPORT AND A DIRT ROADWAY. THE RIGHT LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED, THE RIGHT WING STRUCK THE GROUND, AND THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT'S STATEMENT, '...AT AN ALTITUDE ESTIMATED TO BE 3 FEET. I FELT A VIOLENT BUMP TO THE RIGHT LANDING GEAR WHICH CAUSED THE AIRCRAFT TO YAW TO THE RIGHT.' THE PILOT WROTE THAT HE HAD BEEN INTO THE AIRPORT MANY TIMES AND, '...I WAS GENERALLY AWARE OF THE CHANGES OF THE FACILITIES.. . BUT HAD NEVER RECOGNIZED THE HAZARD TO A LOW APPROACH PRESENTED BY THIS ROW OF POLES.'

NTSB Probable Cause

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN THE PROPER GLIDEPATH DURING LANDING APPROACH.

Full Narrative

On May 15, 1994, about 1525 eastern daylight time, a Davis DK-1, N158Y, piloted by Mr. Richard S. Patenaude, collided with a post while landing at the Goodspeed Airport, East Haddam, Connecticut. The airplane was substantially damaged. The pilot and one passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The flight was operated under 14 CFR 91. Witnesses saw the airplane make an approach to runway 14, land short of the runway, and strike a post. According to the witnesses, the landing gear collapsed, a wing struck the ground, and the airplane nosed over. According to the pilot's statement on the NTSB Form 6120.1/2, after the airplane had crossed the airport boundary, "...at an altitude estimated to be 3 feet. I felt a violent bump to the right landing gear which caused the aircraft to yaw to the right." The pilot wrote in his statement: ...close scrutiny revealed that 3 inches at the bottom curvature of the right tire impacted on the top of an eight inch diameter wood post. The post, one of a series of such posts which demarcate [separate] the boundary between the airport and an dirt roadway...appeared to be a section of a utility pole buried about three feet into the sandy soil, and extending about two feet above local ground level...I was generally aware of the changes to the facilities at Goodspeed, but had never recognized the hazard to a low approach presented by this row of poles.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time14:50 EDT
Nearest AirportGoodspeed (0nm)
Runway14
Runway Length2118 ft
Runway Width50 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftDavis DK-1
Tail NumberN158Y
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · C-125 · Reciprocating · 125
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (2 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured2
Total2
Crew 1Age 64 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind200° @ 5 kt
Visibility30 sm
CeilingOvercast 15000 ft
Temperature / Dew Point64 F / 0 C
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data