# NTSB NYC90DFJ02: Robbins Breezy CG-1, N68CG, Horseheads, NY, April 6, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Final report
- Date: April 6, 1990, 14:45 local (18:45 UTC)
- Place: Horseheads, NY
- Coordinates: 42.15995, -76.820915 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.1600&lon=-76.8209&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report May 3, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 36491
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC90DFJ02
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/36491/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC90DFJ02

## Probable cause

THE LOSS OF AIRCRAFT CONTROL DURING HIGH SPEED TAXI FOR AN UNKNOWN REASON.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - on ground/water, taxi
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
  - aircraft control - not maintained
  - lift-off - inadvertent
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE PLT WAS PERFORMING A HIGH SPEED TAXI TEST AFTER THE HOMEBUILT ACFT WAS ASSEMBLED.  WITNESSES STATED THE ACFT LIFTED OFF, THEN PITCHED UP 'IN A NEAR VERTICAL ATTITUDE . . . NOSED OVER AND STRUCK THE GROUND. . .'   A POST-ACDNT INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT ALL CONTROL SURFACES WERE INTACT.  THE DOWN ELEVATOR CABLE WAS FOUND TO HAVE FAILED DURING THE OCCURRENCE; HOWEVER, A METALLURGICAL EXAM OF THE FRACTURE SURFACES REVEALED EVIDENCE OF OVERSTRESS (OVERLOAD) FAILURE.  IMPACT DAMAGE OF THE AIRFRAME OCCURRED IN THE AREA WHERE THE DOWN ELEVATOR CABLE HAD FAILED.  NO REASON WAS FOUND FOR THE CABLE TO HAVE BEEN OVERLOADED, EXCEPT FOR IMPACT STRESSES.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N68CG (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: ROBBINS BREEZY CG-1 (BREEZY CG-)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: CG-1
- Airframe hours: 502
- Engines: LYCOMING O-290-G 135 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Lee L. Robbins
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, March 19, 1990, 1 hours before
- Airport: ELM, Elmira/Corning Regional

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 57; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; toxicology performed; flight hours: 9,600 total, 200 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 290° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 6,500 ft broken
- Temperature: 41 °F, dew point 16 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: ELM

## 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 19900406007719A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900406007719A), Apr 6, 1990: Amtrrl BREEZYRLU1, Elmira, NY, Destroyed, 1 fatal. On high speed taxi test nosed up in the air,vertically stalled and crashed.

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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