# NTSB ERA20CA210: Great Lakes 2T 1A, N863K, St. Mary's, PA, June 8, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 8, 2020, 12:30 local (16:30 UTC) - Place: St. Mary's, PA - Coordinates: 41.412498, -78.502502 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.4125&lon=-78.5025&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Landing area undershoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 101413 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA20CA210 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101413/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101413 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20CA210 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain proper glide path during final approach which resulted in a collision with airport equipment short of the runway. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Great Lakes 2T-1A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=3910106), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: descent/approach/glide path](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Great Lakes 2T-1A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md?model=3910106), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: tower/antenna (incl guy wires)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022017): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Awareness of condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Great Lakes 2T-1A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022017/cases.md?model=3910106), [All aircraft, 55 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022017/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Landing area undershoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370) (defining event); cases with it: [Great Lakes 2T-1A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370/sequence.md?model=3910106), [All aircraft, 201 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Great Lakes 2T-1A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=3910106), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that after about 15 minutes of flying around the airport, he returned for landing. While he was on the base leg of the airport traffic pattern, he thought the airplane was a little high, so he reduced engine power so he could join the final approach on a 3-degree glide slope. As he entered the final approach, he added a little power and aimed for a touchdown point about 1,000 ft down the runway, which was sloped; it was higher on the approach end and dipped down in the middle. During short final, he realized that he descended below the glide path and his sink rate was higher than expected, so he added engine power, but shortly after doing so, he felt a "bang" and jolt, followed by a pitch down and impact with the terrain. The airplane struck a localizer antenna near the approach end of the runway and skidded to a stop in the grass. The forward portion of the fuselage, right wing, and horizontal stabilizer were substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N863K](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N863K), registered now, S/N 124, built 1932 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Great Lakes 2T 1A (Undesignat) - Registry model: [Great Lakes 2T-1A](https://openairdocs.org/model/great-lakes-2t-1a) (registry code 3910106) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Warner SS165 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/warner-ss165-series) (registry code 64504, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 124 - Year built: 1932 - Airframe hours: 1190.88 - Engines: Warner SuperScarab 165 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 1, 2020 - Departed: OYM, St. Mary's, PA - Destination: OYM, St. Mary's, PA - Airport: OYM, St Marys Muni, runway 10, 4,300 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 75; injuries: none; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: basicmed, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 23, 2018; seat: rear; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 23,700 total, 20 in this make and model, 19,900 as pilot in command, 5 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 330° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 50 °F - Altimeter: 30.14 inHg - Observed at: OYM, 1 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 20200608010719A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200608010719A), Jun 8, 2020: Great Lakes 2T-1A, St. Marys, PA, Substantial damage. Investigation results: -On 06/16/2020 at 16:42 et, I interviewed [privacy data omitted]for 56 minutes. -[privacy data omitted] confirmed being PIC of N863K at… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 2, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101413. 1.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 960 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40486609&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Records of Conversation (item 2, .PDF, 41 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40486610&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Records%20of%20Conversation-Master.PDF - Photo Array-Accident Site and Damage (item 3, .PDF, 287 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40486611&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20Array-Accident%20Site%20and%20Damage-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. --- 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.