# NTSB NYC02LA034: Gillette Baby Ace, N916MG, Spencerport, NY, December 5, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 5, 2001, 13:43 local (18:43 UTC) - Place: Spencerport, NY - Coordinates: 43.17987, -77.799232 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.1799&lon=-77.7992&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report June 18, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO-23 - NTSB case key (mKey): 53874 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC02LA034 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/53874/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC02LA034 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during approach to the airport, which resulted in an inadvertent stall. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis A witness observed the airplane about 200 feet above the ground, turning from base to final leg. It was in a steep bank, approximately 60 degrees. The witnessed remarked to his wife that the airplane was going to stall, and then he observed the airplane fly directly into the ground. The pilot was seriously injured, and did not recall the accident. Examination of the wreckage by an FAA inspector revealed that the right wing aileron cable was not secured in a pulley groove. However, emergency personnel had severed the wings during the rescue effort, and the FAA inspector could not determine if the cable dislodged before the accident or during the rescue effort. ## Factual narrative On December 5, 2001, at 1343 eastern standard time, a homebuilt Baby Ace, N916MG, was substantially damaged during approach to a private airstrip in Spencerport, New York. The certificated private pilot was seriously injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. A student pilot, who had approximately 200 hours of flight experience, was at his place of business and witnessed the accident. The student pilot stated that he heard the airplane fly overhead, and recognized the sound of the engine. He then saw the airplane turn from base to final leg for runway 35, and it was about 200 feet above the ground. The airplane was in a steep bank, possibly in excess of 60 degrees. The witness told his wife, "he's going to stall," and then the airplane flew directly into the ground. According to the pilot's written statement, he did not recall the accident. He reported a total flight experience of 310 hours, of which, 40 hours were in the same make and model as the accident airplane. Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the right wing aileron cable was not secured in a pulley groove. Rather, the cable was resting between the side of the pulley and an attachment bracket. The inspector added that emergency personnel had severed the wings during the rescue effort, and he did not know if the cable dislodged before the accident or during the rescue effort. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N916MG](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N916MG-2002-04-29), registration cancelled 2002-04-29, S/N MG1, built 2001 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Gillette Baby Ace - Registry model: [Gillette Mark P BABY ACE](https://openairdocs.org/model/gillette-mark-p-baby-ace) (registry code 05609OQ) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental A&C65 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c65-series) (registry code 17003, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: MG1 - Airframe hours: 40 - Engines: Continental A65 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Mark P. Gillette - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: NONE, Spencerport, NY - Airport: NONE, Private Airstrip, runway 35, 2,600 × 80 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 38; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: single; flight hours: 310 total, 40 in this make and model, 240 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft broken - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 30.14 inHg - Observed at: ROC, 10 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 20011205034359A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20011205034359A), Dec 5, 2001: Spencerport, NY, No damage. (-23) Aircraft was observed, at approximately 200 feet AGL, turning from right base to final for a private grass strip. The aircraft was observed to bank… 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.