Danbury Municipal Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Danbury, Connecticut 06810
Saturday, June 9, 2001 8:47 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The airplane was in cruise flight at 6,500 feet, about 7 miles west of the airport, when the engine lost partial power. The pilot contacted Danbury tower, proceeded direct to the airport, and circled about 1 mile west of the runway to lose altitude. The controller provided weather information and asked the pilot if he would like to land on runway 26 or 35. The pilot opted for runway 26 because it was longer. Upon passing through 3,000 feet, the controller asked the pilot if he could make a left 270 degree turn, and the pilot acknowledged. About a minute later, the pilot reported that the engine was running rough, but still producing power. While on final approach, the pilot made s-turns, and the controller gave him the option to make another 270 degree turn to lose altitude. On final approach, witnesses observed the airplane in a "dramatic" slip, and that it was too high and fast to land on the 4,422 foot long runway. At mid-field, the airplane was still "extremely fast" at a height level with the control tower, about 62 feet. Near the end of the runway, the pilot applied power to go-around, but the engine did not respond. The airplane continued to descend and collided with a pole about a 1/4- mile from the end of runway 8. Examination of the engine revealed that the #3 exhaust stack exhibited a 3/4-inch wide horizontal crack along the rim of the weld line. Additionally, the pilot had a 3,135 foot long perpendicular runway available for landing.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the pilot's misjudged altitude and excessive airspeed resulting in a collision with a pole. A factor was the cracked exhaust stack, which resulted in a partial loss of engine power.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/9/2001
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 847
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City DANBURY
Event State CONNECTICUT
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 06810
Event Date Year 2001
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport DANBURY MUNICIPAL AIRPORT
Event Location Nearest Airport ID DXR
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport 260
Airport Elevation 458
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 840 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID DXR
Elevation of weather observation facility 458
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 20
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 8
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 330
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 6
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.9
Density Altitude (feet) 1327
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 2
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 13780
NTSB Notification Source FAA NEROC
NTSB Notification Date Jun 9 2001 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2130
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Aug 26 2003 8:17AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\JOHB
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office WINDSOR LOCKS FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N27221
NTSB Number IAD01LA068
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Grumman American
Aircraft Model AA-5A
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number AA5A-80891
Certified Max Gross Weight 2200
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Mar 15 2001 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 49
Airframe Hours 2488
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name TIGER ONE LLC
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City EAST BERLIN
Aircraft Owner State CT
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 06023
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name --
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City --
Operator State --
Operator Country --
Operator Zip code --
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code HFD
Departure City HARTFORD
Departure State CT
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1600
Departure Time Zone MST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code RDG
Destination City READING
Destination State PA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Go-around (VFR)
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Nov 4 2002 4:03PM
User who most recently changed record PEAR
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location 26
Runway Length 4422
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --