# NTSB NYC94LA080: Davis DK-1, N158Y, East Haddam, CT, May 15, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 15, 1994, 14:50 local (18:50 UTC) - Place: East Haddam, CT - Location: 41.4457° N, 72.4556° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at GOODSPEED (42B), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.4457&lon=-72.4556&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 18, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 38751 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC94LA080 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38751/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC94LA080 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN THE PROPER GLIDEPATH DURING LANDING APPROACH. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Undershoot, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - proper glidepath - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - object - fence post ## Analysis WITNESSES SAW THE AIRPLANE MAKE AN APPROACH TO RUNWAY 14, LAND SHORT OF THE RUNWAY, STRIKE ONE OF A SERIES OF 2 FEET HIGH FENCE POSTS SEPARATED THE BOUNDARY BETWEEN THE AIRPORT AND A DIRT ROADWAY. THE RIGHT LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED, THE RIGHT WING STRUCK THE GROUND, AND THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT'S STATEMENT, '...AT AN ALTITUDE ESTIMATED TO BE 3 FEET. I FELT A VIOLENT BUMP TO THE RIGHT LANDING GEAR WHICH CAUSED THE AIRCRAFT TO YAW TO THE RIGHT.' THE PILOT WROTE THAT HE HAD BEEN INTO THE AIRPORT MANY TIMES AND, '...I WAS GENERALLY AWARE OF THE CHANGES OF THE FACILITIES.. . BUT HAD NEVER RECOGNIZED THE HAZARD TO A LOW APPROACH PRESENTED BY THIS ROW OF POLES.' ## Factual narrative On May 15, 1994, about 1525 eastern daylight time, a Davis DK-1, N158Y, piloted by Mr. Richard S. Patenaude, collided with a post while landing at the Goodspeed Airport, East Haddam, Connecticut. The airplane was substantially damaged. The pilot and one passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The flight was operated under 14 CFR 91. Witnesses saw the airplane make an approach to runway 14, land short of the runway, and strike a post. According to the witnesses, the landing gear collapsed, a wing struck the ground, and the airplane nosed over. According to the pilot's statement on the NTSB Form 6120.1/2, after the airplane had crossed the airport boundary, "...at an altitude estimated to be 3 feet. I felt a violent bump to the right landing gear which caused the aircraft to yaw to the right." The pilot wrote in his statement: ...close scrutiny revealed that 3 inches at the bottom curvature of the right tire impacted on the top of an eight inch diameter wood post. The post, one of a series of such posts which demarcate [separate] the boundary between the airport and an dirt roadway...appeared to be a section of a utility pole buried about three feet into the sandy soil, and extending about two feet above local ground level...I was generally aware of the changes to the facilities at Goodspeed, but had never recognized the hazard to a low approach presented by this row of poles. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N158Y](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N158Y), registered now, S/N 508, built 1930 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: DAVIS DK-1 - Registry model: [Davis D-1-K](https://openairdocs.org/model/davis-d-1-k) (registry code 2740504) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C125 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c125-series) (registry code 17011, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 508 - Airframe hours: 2338 - Engines: CONTINENTAL C-125 125 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Ye Aerodrome At Chester - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 24, 1993, 38 hours before - Departed: 3B9, CHESTER, CT - Destination: 42B - Airport: 42B, Goodspeed, runway 14, 2,118 × 50 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 64; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, unknown; seat: rear; flight hours: 1,013 total, 227 in this make and model, 4 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 5 knots - Visibility: 30 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 15,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 64 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg ## 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 19940515010759A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940515010759A), May 15, 1994: Davis D1K, East Haddam, CT, Substantial damage. Struck a half buried post on short final and impacted short of runway. Too low on VFR approach. ## Other investigations on N158Y (2) 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. - [NTSB NYC91LA249](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC91LA249), Sep 29, 1991: Davis D1K (N158Y), Chester, CT, substantial damage. Probable cause: IMPROPER MAINTENANCE ON THE ENGINE WHICH RESULTED IN A POWER LOSS DUE TO A STUCK EXHAUST VALVE AND SUBSEQUENT FORCED LANDING IN UNSUITABLE TERRAIN. - [NTSB NYC73DNE28](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC73DNE28), Apr 14, 1973: Davis D-1K (N158Y), Chester, CT, substantial damage 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.