NEW HAVEN, CT, USA
N1157B
MOONEY M20J
THE PILOT COMPLETED A TOUCH-AND-GO ON RWY 20 FROM A SIMULATED ENGINE-OUT APPROACH, AND ON UPWIND REQUESTED A SHORT APPROACH TO RWY 32. THE TOWER CLEARED THE FLIGHT TO LAND ON RWY 32, AND WAS LAST OBSERVED STARTING A LEFT CROSSWIND. THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED BRUSH AND CARTWHEELED ACROSS A ROAD, LEAVING PROPELLER STRIKE MARKS ON THE ROAD. ONE PROP BLADE WAS FOUND BENT FORWARD; THE OTHER BLADE TIP WAS SEVERED - THE SEVERED END HAD SIGNS OF DEFORMATION & BENDING MOMENTS FORWARD ACROSS THE CORD OF THE BLADE. THE ENGINE WAS EXAMINED AND NO ANOMALIES WERE FOUND. DEPARTURE OFF RWY 20, WITH A LEFT TURN TOWARD RWY 32, PROVIDES A PILOT WITH A VIEW OF LONG ISLAND SOUND AND THE LIGHTS FROM THE SHORE OF LONG ISLAND LESS THAN 20 MI AWAY. THERE WAS NO VASI OR REIL FOR RWY 32.
On Tuesday, June 8, 1993, at about 2145 eastern daylight time, a Mooney 20J, N1157B, owned and piloted by David B. Wakefield, of North Haven, Connecticut, impacted the ground approximately one quarter mile from the runway, while in the traffic pattern at the Tweed New Haven Airport, New Haven, Connecticut. The airplane was substantially damaged. The pilot was seriously injured and the passenger received minor injures. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. A flight plan had not been filed for the flight operating under 14 CFR 91. The passenger indicated to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector that conception of the flight originated as he and the pilot departed a social gathering and were in the vicinity of the airport. The airplane departed at approximately 2045 EDT and flew for about 1 hour. From approximately 5,000 feet the pilot performed a spiral descent, did a touch and go on runway 20 and requested a full stop landing on runway 32. The pilot flew left traffic for runway 32, and while turning from the downwind to base leg, the airplane impacted the ground.
THE LOSS OF AIRPLANE CONTROL AS A RESULT OF THE PILOT ENCOUNTERING SPATIAL DISORIENTATION. FACTORS IN THIS ACCIDENT WERE THE LOW AMBIENT LIGHT CONDITIONS AND THE LACK OF RUNWAY END IDENTIFIER LIGHTS
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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