# NTSB ERA20LA337: Lancair 235, N35FW, Chester, CT, September 25, 2020

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: September 25, 2020, 16:31 local (20:31 UTC)
- Place: Chester, CT · Chester Airport (SNC)
- Coordinates: 41.383709, -72.505787 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.3837&lon=-72.5058&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090)
- 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): 102045
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA20LA337
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/102045/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102045
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20LA337

## Probable cause

The pilot's unstable approach, which resulted in a hard landing, and the separation of the left main landing gear.

## Findings

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

- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Williams Indust Elect LANCAIR 235, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05620AA), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/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: [Williams Indust Elect LANCAIR 235, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md?model=05620AA), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Landing: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) (defining event); cases with it: [Williams Indust Elect LANCAIR 235, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=05620AA), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Williams Indust Elect LANCAIR 235, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=05620AA), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that the airplane was on short final approach when he “sensed a severe rate of descent.” He attempted to flare; however, the airplane landed hard on the displaced runway threshold. The pilot further reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Airport video revealed that as the airplane touched, the left main gear fractured, and the airplane bounced, touched down again, traveled down an embankment, and impacted an airport hangar. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and empennage.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N35FW](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N35FW), registered now, S/N 119 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: LANCAIR 235
- Registry model: [Williams Indust Elect LANCAIR 235](https://openairdocs.org/model/williams-indust-elect-lancair-235) (registry code 05620AA) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 119
- Year built: 1995
- Airframe hours: 800
- Engines: Lycoming O-235-L2C 118 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, August 15, 2020, 3 hours before
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: SNC, Chester Airport, runway 17, 2,722 × 50 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Handheld GPS, Electronic primary flight display

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 83; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 27, 2020; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 3,975 total, 3,172 in this make and model, 7.5 in the last 90 days, 7.5 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 210° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 50 °F
- Altimeter: 30.10 inHg
- Observed at: KSNC
- METAR: KSNC 251915Z AUTO 21007KT 10SM CLR 24/10 A3010 RMK AO2

## 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 20200925011959A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200925011959A), Sep 25, 2020: Williams Indust Elect LANCAIR 235, Chester, CT, Substantial damage. On September 25, 2020, civil experimental aircraft N35FW, a Williams industrial electronics, model: Lancair 235, serial number: 0119, was involved in an…

## Docket (4 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 9, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102045. 2.7 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11462540&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA20LA337%206120%20signed%20redacted-Rel.pdf
- Pilot statements (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 55 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11462958&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20Williams-Rel.pdf
- FAA inspector statement (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 55 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11467618&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20FAA%20ASI-Rel.pdf
- Photo array (item 4, PDF, 6 pages, 691 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11463319&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA20LA337%20Photo%20Array-Rel.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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