Davis D1K accident near Chester, Connecticut, September 29, 1991
On September 29, 1991 at about 1:30 pm local time, a Davis D1K, registered N158Y, was substantially damaged in an accident near Chester, Connecticut (Chester airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
IMPROPER MAINTENANCE ON THE ENGINE WHICH RESULTED IN A POWER LOSS DUE TO A STUCK EXHAUST VALVE AND SUBSEQUENT FORCED LANDING IN UNSUITABLE TERRAIN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 29, 1991 · about 1:30 pm local time
- Place
- Chester, Connecticut · Chester
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Davis D1K · all D1Ks on the register
- Registration
- N158Y · registry record · serial 508
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT DEPARTED WITH A GLIDER IN TOW AND LOST POWER. HE CUT AWAY THE GLIDER WHICH LANDED WITH MINOR DAMAGE AND LANDED THE AIRPLANE IN A WOODED AREA. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED IT WAS BEING OPERATED WITH AUTO GAS WITHOUT AN STC. A COMPRESSION CHECK THAT MEETS FAA SPECIFICATIONS HAD NOT BEEN CONDUCTED ON THE ENGINE SINCE 1963, AND CARBON LIKE COMBUSTION DEPOSITS HAD BUILT UP ON THE EXHAUST VALVE IN THE NUMBER 3 CYLINDER, KEEPING THE EXHAUST VALVE FROM CLOSING. THE AIRPLANE AND ENGINE WERE 6 HOURS OUT OF AN ANNUAL INSPECTION.
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; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 973 hours in all; 219 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,300 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 26, 1991; 15 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,461 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-125 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: 4B9 Simsbury CT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 2,566 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 3 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.
Other NTSB records under N158Y the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.