Classic Aircraft CORP. WACO accident near Plymouth, Connecticut, June 22, 1990
On June 22, 1990 at about 6:15 pm local time, a Classic Aircraft CORP. WACO, registered N226HS, was substantially damaged in an accident near Plymouth, Connecticut (Waterbury 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 FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO CORRECTLY RECOVER FROM A BOUNCED LANDING. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: IMPROPER USE OF THE BRAKES BY THE PILOT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 22, 1990 · about 6:15 pm local time
- Place
- Plymouth, Connecticut · Waterbury
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Classic Aircraft CORP. WACO
- Registration
- N226HS · registry record · serial YMF-5(F5026)
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT CAME IN FOR A LANDING AND GOT INTO A SERIES OF BOUNCES. ON THE FINAL BOUNCE THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN NOSE LOW, THE PROPELLER DUG IN AND THE AIRPLANE FLIPPED OVER. AFTER THE ACCIDENT, THE PILOT SAID HE REALIZED HE HAD USED IMPROPER BOUNCED LANDING RECOVERY TECHNIQUE.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,856 hours in all; 126 in this make and model; 84 in the last 90 days; 48 in the last 30 days; 1,693 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 136 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 29, 1989; 136 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,770 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Jacobs (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 7B6 Warehouse Point CT at 5:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 2,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 5 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded at 15 ft; scat at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.