# NTSB GAA20CA068: Icon A5, N59WE, Chester, CT, November 2, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: November 2, 2019, 19:30 local (23:30 UTC) - Place: Chester, CT - Coordinates: 41.383609, -72.505836 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.3836&lon=-72.5058&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 21, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 100553 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA20CA068 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/100553/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100553 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA20CA068 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain a proper approach angle in dark night conditions, which resulted in a collision with treetops and a subsequent hard landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [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: [Icon A5, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md?model=06001A7), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Icon A5, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=06001A7), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Icon A5, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md?model=06001A7), [All aircraft, 933 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md) - [Light condition: dark](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on personnel (probable cause); cases with it: [Icon A5, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020/cases.md?model=06001A7), [All aircraft, 448 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020/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: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Icon A5, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=06001A7), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Icon A5, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=06001A7), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Landing: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Icon A5, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=06001A7), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) - [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); cases with it: [Icon A5, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=06001A7), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Icon A5, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=06001A7), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, during a night flight, the ceiling was overcast at 5,000 ft above ground level, but the visibility was greater than 10 statute miles. He added that, during the turn from base to final, the airplane's approach angle was high, and it was "very dark." He adjusted the approach angle, but before reaching the runway, the right wing impacted treetops. The airplane rotated right, and the pilot added power to align the airplane with the runway. He recalled that it was difficult to perceive the airplane's altitude above the runway because of its nose-high attitude, and the airplane landed hard on the runway. The left main landing gear collapsed, and the airplane exited the left side of the runway. The airplane continued across the grass safety area and down a 6-ft-tall retaining wall. The airplane came to rest upright on the parallel taxiway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing, the lower fuselage, and the empennage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that during a night flight, the ceiling was overcast at 5,000ft above ground level, but the visibility was greater than 10 statute miles. During the turn from base to final, the airplane's approach angle was high, and the pilot reported that it was "very dark." He reported that he had "adjusted his approach angle, but prior to reaching the runway, the airplane's right wing collided with treetops. The airplane rotated to the right, and he added power to align the airplane with the runway. He recalled that it was difficult to perceive the airplane's altitude above the runway because of the airplane's nose high attitude, and the airplane landed hard on the runway. The left main landing gear collapsed, and the airplane exited the left side of the runway. The airplane continued across the grass safety area and "down off a 6-foot retaining wall." The airplane came to rest upright on the parallel taxiway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing, the lower fuselage and the empennage. The METAR at the accident airport reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was calm, and the ceiling was overcast at 4,900ft above ground level. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N59WE](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N59WE), registered now, S/N 00035 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: ICON A5 - Registry model: [Icon A5](https://openairdocs.org/model/icon-a5) (registry code 06001A7) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 912 IS series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912-is-series) (registry code 55593, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 00035 - Year built: 2018 - Airframe hours: 80.5 - Engines: Rotax 912IS 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Jet Mist Holdings Llc - Registered owner: Jet Mist Holdings Llc - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Special flight (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, August 1, 2019 - Departed: GON, GROTON, CT - Destination: GON, GROTON, CT - Airport: SNC, Chester, runway 17, 2,722 × 50 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system, Airframe parachute, Angle of attack indicator, Data recorder, Electronic flight bag or handheld device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 66; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: basicmed, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 24, 2018; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 3,170 total, 72 in this make and model, 3,136 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,900 ft broken - Temperature: 45 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: KSNC ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 4, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100553. 4.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 4.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40480481&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Photo (item 2, .PDF, 107 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40480482&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo-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.