Davis DA-2A accident near Skaneateles, New York, June 6, 1989
On June 6, 1989 at about 8:28 pm local time, a Davis DA-2A, an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N26Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near Skaneateles, New York (Skaneateles airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S HARD LANDING WHICH RESULTED IN NOSE GEAR COLLAPSE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 6, 1989 · about 8:28 pm local time
- Place
- Skaneateles, New York · Skaneateles · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Davis DA-2A, amateur-built
- Registration
- N26Q · no longer on the register · serial 168
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE HOMEBUILT AIRPLANE'S NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED AFTER A HARD LANDING AT THE DESTINATION AIRPORT. THE AIRPLANE SKIDDED OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY AND NOSED OVER.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: glider; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 850 hours in all; 8 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 780 as pilot in command; 200 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 398 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, June 5, 1989; 3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming UNKNOWN (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: N22 Penn Yan NY at 8:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28, 3,000 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 10 knots
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 3°F (-16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.