# NTSB DCA94MA053: Piper PA31, N990RA, Stratford, CT, April 28, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Class 1 · Major · Final report - Date: April 27, 1994, 22:56 local (Apr 28, 1994, 02:56 UTC) - Place: Stratford, CT - Location: 41.1635° N, 73.1262° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at BRIDGEPORT/SIKORSKY (BDR), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.1635&lon=-73.1262&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 8 fatal, 1 serious - Status: Completed, report April 12, 1995 - Report: Board-adopted at Board Meeting - Investigation class: Class 1 - NTSB office: Major Investigations Division - Safety recommendations: Yes - NTSB case key (mKey): 10984 - NTSB case page: https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/Pages/DCA94MA053.aspx - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/10984/pdf - Board report AAR9408 (PDF): https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/AAR9408.pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA94MA053 ## Probable cause The failure of the captain to use the available ILS glideslope, his failure to execute a go-around when conditions were not suitable for landing, and his failure to land the airplane at a point sufficient to allow for a safe stopping distance; the fatalities were caused by the presence of the nonfrangible blast fence and the absence of a safety area at the end of the runway. (NTSB Report AAR-94/08) ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Overrun, landing - roll - proper glidepath - not used, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor) - weather condition - fog (contributing factor) - distance/speed - misjudged, pilot in command (contributing factor) - go-around - not performed, pilot in command (cause) - proper touchdown point - not attained, pilot in command (cause) - airport facilities,instrument approach lights - not installed - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - airport facilities,runway safety area - inadequate - fuselage,seat - improper - fuselage,seat - unapproved - misc eqpt/furnishings,seat belt - incorrect - object - fence ## Analysis The captain had ILS glideslope data available during the approach but did not fly the ILS glideslope. The partial obscuration of the airport environment, due to ground fog, contributed to the captain's failure to recognize that the airplane was high on both his approach and landing. The destruction of the airplane and the resulting occupant injuries were a direct result of the collision with the blast fence. FAA interaction & communication with local communities, although persistent, were unsuccessful in gaining support for runway safety area improvements and for the installation of approach lighting for runway 6. The passenger seats had been improperly assembled using unapproved parts, and seat belts had been installed incorrectly. ## Factual narrative SEE NTSB BLUE COVER REPORT NTSB/AAR-94-008 ## Aircraft - Registration: [N990RA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N990RA-1997-07-21), registration cancelled 1997-07-21, S/N 317405417 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA31 (350) - Registry model: [Piper PA-31-350](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-31-350) (registry code 7103110) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 31-7405417 - Engines: LYCOMING TIO-540-J2BD 350 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Part 135 - Operator: Action Air Charters, doing business as Action Air Charters - Registered owner: Jib, Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Aerobatic; Special, Experimental (Special); Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 17, 1994 - Departed: ACY, ATLANTIC CITY, NJ - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: BDR, Sikorsky Memorial, runway 6, 4,677 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 33; commercial, private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 3,500 total, 527 in this make and model, 2,200 as pilot in command, 71 in the last 90 days, 44 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Wind: 250° at 6 knots - Visibility: 2 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 9,500 ft broken - Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 59 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: BDR, 1 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19940427009289A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940427009289A), Apr 27, 1994: Piper PA31350, Bridgeport, CT, Destroyed, 8 fatal. Failed fly ILS approach. High and long. Failed go around. Landed last third. Hit blast fence end of runway. 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.