# NTSB CHI88DEC06: Sackett J2, N33131, Deckerville, MI, August 19, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Final report
- Date: August 19, 1988, 17:00 local (21:00 UTC)
- Place: Deckerville, MI
- Coordinates: 43.520549, -82.739471 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.5205&lon=-82.7395&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report October 16, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 13849
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI88DEC06
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/13849/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI88DEC06

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S POOR JUDGEMENT AND MISJUDGED PERCEPTIONS WHILE PRACTICING TAKEOFFS AND LANDINGS IN AN UNFAMILIAR AIRCRAFT. THE PILOT EXECUTED A HARD LANDING, TOUCHING DOWN SHORT OF THE RUNWAY AND COLLAPSING THE LANDING GEAR. THE AIRCRAFT SKIDDED TO A STOP ON THE RUNWAY, AND A POST-IMPACT FIRE ENSUED. THE PILOT'S LACK OF FLIGHT EXPERIENCE IN THE ACCIDENT MAKE AND MODEL AIRCRAFT WAS A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - planned approach - not followed, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience in type of aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - airspeed - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
- Gear collapsed, landing - roll
  - landing gear - overload

## Analysis

THE PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS ATTEMPTING A POWER-OFF LANDING IN AN AIRCRAFT IN WHICH HE HAD VERY LITTLE FLIGHT EXPERIENCE. HE STATED THAT WHILE ON SHORT FINAL THE AIRCRAFT 'WAS SINKING FASTER THAN I REALIZED... .' THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE GROUND SHORT OF THE RUNWAY, AND THE LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED. THE AIRCRAFT SKIDDED TO A STOP ON THE RUNWAY; A POST-IMPACT FIRE ENSUED, AND THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N33131](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N33131-1988-09-09), registration cancelled 1988-09-09, S/N 200 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SACKETT J2
- Registry model: [Todd Elmer L TODD SPECIAL](https://openairdocs.org/model/todd-elmer-l-todd-special) (registry code 05601Z6) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 200
- Airframe hours: 146
- Engines: FRANKLIN 6A4-150-B3 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Harvey W Thompson
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, July 28, 1988, 2 hours before
- Airport: 56G, Lamont, runway 9, 5,217 × 100 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 73; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: rear; flight hours: 272 total, 2 in this make and model, 272 as pilot in command, 3 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 50° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: MBS, 63 nm away

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19880819039639A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880819039639A), Aug 19, 1988: Amtr SAC, Decker Ville, MI, Destroyed. Landed short of the runway. Slid to a stop and aircraft burned.

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.