Yakovlev 55M N1003G

Summary

On 31 July 2005 at about 21:00 local time, a Yakovlev 55M registered N1003G was involved in an accident near New Marlboro, Massachusetts, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

31 July 2005 at 21:00

Classification

Accident

Location

New Marlboro, Massachusetts, United States

Nearest airport

North Caanan (CT24)

Coordinates

42.0942, -73.3044

Aircraft

Yakovlev 55M

Registration

N1003G

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Positioning

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Orange → North Canaan

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

IMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC05CA127

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's improper weather evaluation which resulted in a precautionary off airport landing; and his improper flare which resulted in a hard landing. A factor in this accident was weather associated with thunderstorm activity.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The weather was deteriorating as the pilot approached his destination airport. Approximately 20 miles from his destination, the previously scattered cloud layer became solid and blocked off the view of the sky. Approximately 7 miles from his destination, the pilot observed lightning several miles to the southeast. The pilot thought the storm "was well south" of his current position, and he elected to continue to his destination. He further stated "...not many seconds later, I was in the storm with torrential rain, lightning within 3 miles, and heavy turbulence....". The pilot elected to perform a precautionary landing to a field, on slight uphill terrain. While on approach to the south, the pilot reduced the engine power, and the airplane developed a high sink rate. The pilot added power; however, the airplane landed hard, and was substantially damaged. After the accident, the pilot noted that the winds were strong, and probably from the north, with the possibility of downdrafts and wind shear. A weather observation taken at an airport located about 30 miles east-southeast of the accident site, about the time of the accident, included the remarks: "LTG DSNT SW AND W."

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.