# Accident 20170222005869A: Piper PA-38-112, East Haven, CT, February 22, 2017

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 22, 2017, 09:57 local time
- Place: East Haven, CT
- Airport: Tweed New Haven
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 41.2536° N, 72.8856° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.2536&lon=-72.8856&mi=10
- Aircraft: N2452C, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2452C-2020-07-10) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-38-112 (registry code 7103812, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-38-112) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-235 series (registry code 41505, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-38-112
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-235 SERIES
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Other injuries: 1
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA17FA112](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA17FA112) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170222005869A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

ON FEBRUARY 22, 2017, ABOUT 0957 EASTERN STANDARD TIME, A PIPER PA-38-112, REGISTRATION NUMBER N2452C, WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED WHEN IT IMPACTED TERRAIN IN EAST HAVEN, CONNECTICUT. THE EVENT OCCURRED DURING AN INSTRUCTIONAL INITIAL CLIMB FROM TWEED-NEW HAVEN AIRPORT (HVN), NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT. THE FLIGHT  INSTRUCTOR WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED AND THE STUDENT PILOT WAS FATALLY INJURED. THE AIRPLANE WAS OPERATED BY AMERICAN FLIGHT ACADEMY OPERATING UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF 14 CFR PART 61. AT THE ACCIDENT SITE, INITIAL INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE AIRCRAFT ENGINE AND PROPELLER WERE PARTIALLY BURIED IN MUD BUT REMAINED ATTACHED TO THE AIRFRAME. THE PROPELLER BLADES DID NOT EXHIBIT ROTATIONAL DAMAGE.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB ERA17FA112](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA17FA112), Feb 22, 2017: Piper PA38 (N2452C), East Haven, CT, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The failure of the fuel selector valve in a position that restricted fuel flow to the engine, resulting in a total loss of engine power during initial climb due to fuel starvation. Also causal was…

## Other reports on N2452C (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 19810417024209I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810417024209I), Apr 17, 1981: Piper PA38112 (N2452C), Montgomery, AL, Minor damage. Student pilot lost control on landing roll out and ran off runway.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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