# NTSB NYC05CA127: Yakovlev 55M, N1003G, New Marlboro, MA, July 31, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 31, 2005, 17:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: New Marlboro, MA - Coordinates: 42.094165, -73.304443 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.0942&lon=-73.3044&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 27, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO-03 - NTSB case key (mKey): 62101 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC05CA127 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/62101/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC05CA127 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper weather evaluation which resulted in a precautionary off airport landing; and his improper flare which resulted in a hard landing. A factor in this accident was weather associated with thunderstorm activity. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, cruise - weather condition - thunderstorm - weather evaluation - improper, pilot in command (cause) - Hard landing, landing - weather condition - thunderstorm (contributing factor) - flare - improper, pilot in command (cause) - terrain condition - grass ## Analysis The weather was deteriorating as the pilot approached his destination airport. Approximately 20 miles from his destination, the previously scattered cloud layer became solid and blocked off the view of the sky. Approximately 7 miles from his destination, the pilot observed lightning several miles to the southeast. The pilot thought the storm "was well south" of his current position, and he elected to continue to his destination. He further stated "...not many seconds later, I was in the storm with torrential rain, lightning within 3 miles, and heavy turbulence....". The pilot elected to perform a precautionary landing to a field, on slight uphill terrain. While on approach to the south, the pilot reduced the engine power, and the airplane developed a high sink rate. The pilot added power; however, the airplane landed hard, and was substantially damaged. After the accident, the pilot noted that the winds were strong, and probably from the north, with the possibility of downdrafts and wind shear. A weather observation taken at an airport located about 30 miles east-southeast of the accident site, about the time of the accident, included the remarks: "LTG DSNT SW AND W." ## Factual narrative On July 31, 2005, about 1700 eastern daylight time, a Yakovlev 55M, N1003G, was substantially damaged during a precautionary landing near New Marlboro, Massachusetts. The certificated commercial pilot was not injured. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed near the accident site, and no flight plan had been filed for the flight destined for North Canaan Airport (CT24), North Canaan, Connecticut. The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. In a written statement, the pilot reported that the flight originated at Rockland, Maine, and included a refueling stop in Orange, Massachusetts. The pilot initially flew at an altitude of 4,500 feet above a scattered cloud layer. He noticed that the scattered cloud layer was becoming more solid, and he descended to about 2,500 feet. Approximately 20 miles from his destination, the cloud layer became solid, and blocked off the view of the sky. Approximately 7 miles from CT24, the pilot observed lightning several miles to the southeast. The pilot further stated: "...There was still a visible ceiling above me and visibility ahead. Figuring the storm was well south of me and with only 3 minutes or so to my destination, I chose to proceed thinking at the time that was my safest option, with Great Barrington (GER.), Massachusetts, a few miles to the north as another option. However, not many seconds later, I was in the storm with torrential rain, lightning within 3 miles, and heavy turbulence. Visibility went down to very little. I immediately did a 180 degree turn, but the sky and visibility back to the northeast was closed in...." The pilot observed a field, and elected to perform a precautionary landing to the south, on slight uphill terrain. While on approach, the pilot reduced the engine power, and the airplane developed a high sink rate. The pilot added power; however, the airplane landed hard, and was substantially damaged. After the accident, the pilot noted that the winds were strong, and probably from the north, with the possibility of downdrafts and wind shear. The pilot reported that he did not obtain any formal weather briefings. On the morning of the accident, he received weather for his route of flight by watching the weather channel. He also spoke with another pilot who was based at Simsbury, Connecticut, who did obtain a weather briefing. A weather observation taken at an airport located about 30 miles east-southeast of the accident site, about the time of the accident, included the remarks: "LTG DSNT SW AND W." ## Aircraft - Registration: N1003G (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Yakovlev 55M - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1003 - Airframe hours: 780 - Engines: Vendeneyev M14-P 360 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Positioning, Part 91 - Registered owner: Drew M. Hurley - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, June 1, 2005 - Departed: ORE, Orange, MA - Destination: CT24, North Canaan, CT - Airport: CT24, North Caanan ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 55; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 1, 2004; seat: center; flight hours: 2,300 total, 750 in this make and model, 2,300 as pilot in command, 50 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day - Wind: 40° at 5 knots - Lowest ceiling: 11,000 ft broken - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 30.20 inHg - Observed at: BAF, 30 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 20050731017889A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050731017889A), Jul 31, 2005: New Marlborough, MA, Substantial damage. (-23) The pilot [privacy data omitted] departed from rockland airport (rkd) Maine at approximately 1500 eastern standard time, VFR, enroute to canaan, CT.… 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.