# NTSB NYC87DNE02: Sprague Christian Eagle II, N11GS, North Adams, MA, April 10, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Final report
- Date: April 10, 1987, 13:20 local (17:20 UTC)
- Place: North Adams, MA
- Location: 42.6756° N, 73.1181° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of North Adams, MA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.6756&lon=-73.1181&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report May 26, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 30460
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC87DNE02
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/30460/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC87DNE02

## 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
  - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor)
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE CHRISTIAN EAGLE WAS COMING IN FOR A TOUCH AND GO WHEN IT SANK INTO TREES, TURNED AROUND AND BECAME INVOLVED IN A POSTCRASH FIRE. THE ACFT WAS DESTROYED AND THE PLT FATALLY INJURED. A PILOT WHO PRECEDED THE ACCIDENT AIRCRAFT SAID THE WINDS WERE GUSTY AND THAT THE GUSTY CONDITIONS WERE INTERMITTENT. NO PRE-EXISTING PROBLEMS WERE FOUND WITH THE AIRCRAFT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N11GS](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N11GS-1998-01-06), registration cancelled 1998-01-06, S/N 0001SPRAGUE (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SPRAGUE CHRISTIAN EAGLE II (CHRISTIAN)
- Registry model: [Sprague CHRISTEN EAGLE II](https://openairdocs.org/model/sprague-christen-eagle-ii) (registry code 0565850) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 0001-SPRAGUE
- Airframe hours: 977
- Engines: LYCOMING AEIO-360-A1D 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Robert C. Sprague, Jr.
- Registered owner: Geraldine L. Sprague
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, March 31, 1987, 3 hours before
- Airport: 2B6, Harriman & West, runway 29, 4,300 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 64; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: rear; toxicology performed; flight hours: 12,632 total, 120 in this make and model, 40 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 315° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 61 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Observed at: 2B6

## 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 19870410008959A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870410008959A), Apr 10, 1987: Amtral EAGLE2, North Adams, MA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Too low on final, struck trees, crashed and burned. Had not flown for a prior 5 month period.

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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