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Atlas / NTSB / ERA20LA337

NTSB CAROL · Event

Event ERA20LA337

2020-09-25 Chester, Connecticut, United States Airport · SNC None 1 aircraft Status: Completed

Registry · N35FW

FAA Aircraft Registry record.

Make / Model

LANCAIR LANCAIR 235

Engine

LYCOMING 0-235 SERIES (115 hp)

Seats / Engines

2 seats · 1 engine

Last airworthiness date

19950810

ADS-B equipped

Yes — Mode-S A3E306

Registrant of record

WILLIAMS FRANCIS B

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot's unstable approach, which resulted in a hard landing, and the separation of the left main landing gear.

Factual narrative

The pilot reported that the airplane was on short final approach when he “sensed a severe rate of descent.” He attempted to flare; however, the airplane landed hard on the displaced runway threshold. The pilot further reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Airport video revealed that as the airplane touched, the left main gear fractured, and the airplane bounced, touched down again, traveled down an embankment, and impacted an airport hangar. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and empennage. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

Hierarchical cause / factor breakdown from the FAA bulk avdata database. Each finding tagged C (Cause) or F (Factor).

  • Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot
  • Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Descent/approach/glide path-Not attained/maintained

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2020_ERA20LA337.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.