# NTSB NYC79FA071: Piper PA-30, N8602Y, Groton, CT, July 31, 1979

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: July 31, 1979
- Place: Groton, CT · GROTON, CT
- Location: 41.3249° N, 72.0669° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Groton, CT, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.3249&lon=-72.0669&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal
- Status: Completed, report October 17, 1979
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 134713
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC79FA071
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC79FA071

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2153  79/7/31    GROTON,CT           PIPER PA-30         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 46, 483
        TIME - 1017                    N8602Y              PX-  2  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, UNK/NR IN
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, NOT INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - GROTON
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          MERIDEN,CT                  GROTON,CT
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  LANDING: MISSED APPROACH
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IFR OPERATION
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - FOG
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  600
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          1 MILE OR LESS                                           NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES
          FOG                                                      130
        WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS                                      TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
           10                                                      IFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8602Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8602Y-2009-09-15), registration cancelled 2009-09-15, S/N 30-1742, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-30
- Registry model: [Piper PA-30](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-30) (registry code 7103002) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-320-series) (registry code 41509, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Groton

## 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 19790731027549A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19790731027549A), Jul 31, 1979: Piper PA30, Groton, CT, Substantial damage, 2 fatal. Acft broke out of clouds half way down the runway. Circled to land, flew into fog bank and crashed.

## Other investigations on N8602Y (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 MIA73FKT01](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA73FKT01), Jul 3, 1972: Piper PA-30 (N8602Y), Opa Locka, FL, substantial damage

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.

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