Amateur-built DH-82-A accident near Burlington, Connecticut, July 4, 1990
On July 4, 1990 at about 5:00 pm local time, a amateur-built DH-82-A, registered N82DH, was substantially damaged in an accident near Burlington, Connecticut (Johnnycake airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR THE WIND CONDITION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 4, 1990 · about 5:00 pm local time
- Place
- Burlington, Connecticut · Johnnycake
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built DH-82-A
- Registration
- N82DH · registry record · serial T5409
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE DEHAVILLAND DH-82A (TIGER MOTH) WAS ON FINAL APPROACH WHEN THE PILOT ENCOUNTERED WINDSHEAR. THE AIRCRAFT TOUCHED DOWN IN 4 TO 5 INCH TALL GRASS, ABOUT 300 TO 400 FEET SHORT OF THE INTENDED LANDING AREA. IT THEN DECELERATED RAPIDLY 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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 22,365 hours in all; 90 in this make and model; 21 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 20,715 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,028 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 13, 1990; 3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,825 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Bristol TYPE III (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CT42 Goshen CT at 4:27 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 19, 3,420 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 20 knots, gusting 30
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°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.