# NTSB NYC90DHJ01: Toussaint/Quad City Challenger II, East Moriches, NY, May 12, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Final report
- Date: May 12, 1990, 15:34 local (19:34 UTC)
- Place: East Moriches, NY
- Coordinates: 40.809604, -72.760467 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.8096&lon=-72.7605&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report December 19, 1994
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 36500
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC90DHJ01
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/36500/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC90DHJ01

## Probable cause

FAILURE OF THE UNLICENSED PILOT TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED ON FINAL APPROACH, WHICH RESULTED IN A STALL AND COLLISION WITH THE GROUND.  FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE PILOT'S LACK OF FLIGHT TRAINING, EXPERIENCE, AND QUALIFICATION.

## 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
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
  - inadequate training, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - lack of total experience, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - qualification, pilot in command (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE QUAD CITY CHALLENGER II, AN UNREGISTERED AIRCRAFT THAT WAS BUILT AND OWNED BY THE PILOT, COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND DURING FINAL APPROACH TO LUFKER'S AIRPORT IN VFR WEATHER.  THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED, AND THE UNLICENSED PILOT WAS FATALLY INJURED.  THE OWNER/PILOT WAS OBSERVED EARLIER THAT DAY COMPLETING FINAL ASSEMBLY OF THE PLANE.  AN EYEWITNESS, WHO WAS A PILOT AND DISTRIBUTOR OF THE AIRCRAFT (WHICH WAS SOLD IN KIT FORM TO HOMEBUILDERS), OBSERVED THE AIRCRAFT TAXIING BEFORE TAKEOFF.  HE SAW THE AIRCRAFT TAKE OFF AND CLIMB TO ABOUT 2000 FEET, THEN HEAD SOUTH.  THE AIRCRAFT RETURNED FOR LANDING ABOUT 30 MINUTES LATER.  THE EYEWITNESS OBSERVED IT ON A GO-AROUND AFTER AN UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPT TO LAND.  THE AIRCRAFT REENTERED THE PATTERN AND TURNED ONTO FINAL APPROACH.  AT ABOUT 150 FEET ON FINAL APPROACH, THE AIRCRAFT PITCHED NOSE DOWN AND CRASHED.  ACCORDING TO THE WITNESS, THE ENGINE WAS OPERATING AT A HIGH POWER SETTING, WHEN THE AIRCRAFT PITCHED DOWN & CRASHED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: UNREG (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: TOUSSAINT/QUAD CITY CHALLENGER II (CHALLENGER)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Engines: unknown reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: Unknown
- Flight: Part 91
- Operator: Thomas Von Toussaint
- Registered owner: Thomas Von Toussaint
- Departed: 4NY7, NY
- Airport: 4NY7, Lufker

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; medical: unknown, unknown

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 220° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 37 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: FOK

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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