# NTSB ERA09CA381: Thompson David Challenger, N10232, Waymart, PA, July 5, 2009

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: July 5, 2009, 17:55 local (21:55 UTC)
- Place: Waymart, PA
- Coordinates: 41.644443, -75.363052 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.6444&lon=-75.3631&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report October 19, 2009
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 74201
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA09CA381
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74201/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74201
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09CA381

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed during approach to land resulting in a stall.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Thompson David CHALLENGER II SPEC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=059008E), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Thompson David CHALLENGER II SPEC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=059008E), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Approach-VFR pattern final: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) (defining event); cases with it: [Thompson David CHALLENGER II SPEC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=059008E), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md)
- [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Thompson David CHALLENGER II SPEC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=059008E), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot departed from a private field and flew in the local area for approximately one hour. As he returned to the field for landing, he flew "right above stall speed" on final approach. The pilot reported that he "neglected to monitor [the airplane's] airspeed" and the airplane stalled during the landing flare. The airplane then dropped suddenly and impacted the ground just prior to the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to its fuselage, and no mechanical anomalies were identified.

## Factual narrative

The pilot departed from a private field and flew in the local area for approximately one hour. As he returned to the field for landing, he flew "right above stall speed" on final approach. The pilot reported he "neglected to monitor [the airplane's] airspeed" and the airplane stalled during the landing flare. The airplane then dropped suddenly and impacted the ground just prior to the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to its fuselage, and no mechanical anomalies were identified.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N10232](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N10232), registered now, S/N CH2 0794 CW 11892, built 1996 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: THOMPSON DAVID CHALLENGER
- Registry model: [Thompson David CHALLENGER II SPEC](https://openairdocs.org/model/thompson-david-challenger-ii-spec) (registry code 059008E) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: CH2 0794 CW 11892
- Airframe hours: 366
- Engines: AMA/EXPR UNKNOWN ENG reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: James Parker
- Registered owner: Gustin Darryl A
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Condition, July 2, 2009
- Departed: NONE, Waymart, PA
- Destination: NONE, Waymart, PA
- Airport: NONE, Private Field, runway 36, 700 × 75 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 66; injuries: serious; student; medical: sport pilot; last flight review May 15, 2009; seat: front; flight hours: 80 total, 49 in this make and model, 44 as pilot in command, 4 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter: 29.82 inHg
- Observed at: AVP, 27 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 20090705011549A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090705011549A), Jul 5, 2009: Amtr CHALLENGERII, Forest City, PA, Substantial damage. (-23) Operated under 14 CFR part 91 pilot state that he allowed to let the aircraft get to slow due inadequately managing airspeed. When james parker attempted…

## Docket (4 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 21, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74201. 1.4 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 728 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40316977&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Interview Summaries (item 2, .PDF, 115 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40316978&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Interview%20Summaries-Redacted.PDF
- Photo 1 - Aircraft from front (item 3, .PDF, 266 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40316979&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20Aircraft%20from%20front-Master.PDF
- Photo 2 - Aircraft from left side (item 4, .PDF, 275 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40316980&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20-%20Aircraft%20from%20left%20side-Master.PDF

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.

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