Author Topic: Turbo Commander Crash New Haven (East Haven), CT Tweed HVN  (Read 15945 times)

Offline oneeightleft

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Turbo Commander Crash New Haven (East Haven), CT Tweed HVN
« on: August 09, 2013, 01:52:41 PM »
http://www.nbcconnecticut.com/news/local/Possible-Plane-Crash-in-East-Haven--218996851.html

Accident happened about 11:17am according the Live ATC archives.

If you pull up KHVN 1500-1530 Right about the 16 Minute mark you hear their clearance to land. Then at 17:02 the controller mistakes the call number of the plane, pilot comes back and corrects him. Controller asks if pilot can maintain visual of the runway. Pilot says he has it. Then 17:09 you hear a quick "622!" from the pilot.

Just before the end of the file you hear someone ask for the address of the crash.

If he had visual and was fine less then 10 seconds before the crash, something had to go horribly wrong. Fast.



Offline oneeightleft

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Offline CFIRICH

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Re: Turbo Commander Crash New Haven (East Haven), CT Tweed HVN
« Reply #2 on: August 10, 2013, 08:12:12 PM »
I am a CFII and I was flying IFR with an instrument student earlier that morning. If you listen, the pilot requested a straight in to runway 2 and was turned down by the tower controller due to wind. The wind was 190 degrees at 17 knots. If he had attempted a straight in landing he probably would have gone off the departure end of the runway. Furthermore, the circling minimums are 720' MSL which put him very close to the ceiling. If you have ever tried to fly a circling approach with those conditions in a fast aircraft you could see how he could have lost control. If he had diverted to ISP and flown the ILS24 he would be alive today. Just remember, if you are ever in a bad situation (IFR) ask ATC for vectors to the closest airport with a precision approach which does not require you to land with a substantial tailwind.

Offline phaques

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Re: Turbo Commander Crash New Haven (East Haven), CT Tweed HVN
« Reply #3 on: August 15, 2013, 09:53:26 PM »
It does sound like conditions were bad. Controller asks pilot if he can maintain visual contact with the runway, which suggests the controller had concerns about his ability to do so. Conditions were probably bad.

Other pilots are asking for deviations around weather near KPOU.

did he ask for the straight in because visibility and cgs were bad?

Plane struck the house inverted, so whatever might have happened mechanically, the pilot departed controlled flight and rolled the plane upside down.

My speculation: ceiling and vis were bad. He was nervous about getting down visually, which is why he asked for the straight in even though the wind clearly favored 20. He lost sight of the runway during the downwind while he was low and slow. Cranked the plane around too hard, or got disoriented and stalled at a low altitude, rolled it over and stuck it in the house.