# NTSB NYC89DHM05: Woods Formula VEE SL-1, N31549, Allaire Airport, NJ, September 10, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Final report
- Date: September 10, 1989, 18:17 local (22:17 UTC)
- Place: Allaire Airport, NJ
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report September 9, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 36244
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC89DHM05
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/36244/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC89DHM05

## Probable cause

THE IMPROPER FLARE AND TOUCHDOWN BY THE PILOT IN COMMAND WHILE MAKING A FORCED LANDING FOLLOWING LOSS OF ENGINE POWER.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power, takeoff - initial climb
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
- Hard landing, landing
  - terrain condition - roadway/highway
  - touchdown - improper, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE PILOT STATED THAT SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, AT AN ESTIMATED 50 TO 75 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND, THE HOMEBUILT AIRCRAFT'S ENGINE BEGAN RUNNING ROUGH. HE ATTEMPTED TO TROUBLESHOOT AND INITIATED A TURN BACK TOWARDS THE RUNWAY. THE ENGINE FAILED COMPLETELY AT AN ALTITUDE OF ABOUT 100 FEET. THE AIRCRAFT LANDED HARD ON AN AIRPORT ACCESS ROAD, 'FLATTENED THE LANDING GEAR...' AND SKIDDED INTO A SANDY DITCH. THE AIRCRAFT HAD BEEN FLOWN ON TWO BRIEF LOCAL FLIGHTS EARLIER IN THE DAY, AND BOTH PILOTS STATED THAT THE ENGINE PERFORMED NORMALLY DURING THOSE FLIGHTS. INVESTIGATORS WERE NOT ABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N31549](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N31549-2018-03-23), registration cancelled 2018-03-23, S/N 001, built 1973 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: WOODS FORMULA VEE SL-1 (FORMULA VE)
- Registry model: [Wood FORMULA VEE SL-1](https://openairdocs.org/model/wood-formula-vee-sl-1) (registry code 0562724) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Volkswagen CONVERSION](https://openairdocs.org/engine/volkswagen-conversion) (registry code 63501, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 001
- Airframe hours: 132
- Engines: VOLKSWAGEN AUTO ENGINE 65 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Richard Leonard
- Registered owner: Charles Terry
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, April 15, 1989, 32 hours before
- Departed: BLM, ALLAIRE AIRPORT, NJ

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 44; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 906 total, 32 in the last 90 days, 17 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 4,000 ft unknown
- Temperature: 93 °F, dew point 68 °F
- Observed at: WRI, 15 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 19890910034159A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890910034159A), Sep 10, 1989: Amtr SL1, Belmar/Farmingd, NJ, Substantial damage. Engine quit on climbout. Slid into a ditch trying to land on a road.

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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