# NTSB NYC82AA028: Beech 99, N451C, Groton, CT, February 1, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Final report
- Date: February 1, 1982, 00:45 local (05:45 UTC)
- Place: Groton, CT
- Location: 41.3301° N, 72.0451° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at GROTON-NEW LONDON (GON), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.3301&lon=-72.0451&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 5 serious, 2 minor
- Status: Completed, report February 1, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 70918
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC82AA028
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/70918/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC82AA028

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight encounter with weather, approach - faf/outer marker to threshold (ifr)
  - light condition - dark night
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - turbulence in clouds (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - downdraft (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - windshear (cause)
- Loss of control - in flight, approach - faf/outer marker to threshold (ifr)
- Undershoot, descent - uncontrolled
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - icy

## Analysis

AFTER CROSSING THE MONDI INTERSECTION INBOUND FOR AN ILS RWY 5 APCH, THE CAPTAIN FELT THAT A PROPER DESCENT WAS NOT POSSIBLE DUE TO A STRONG TAILWIND & THEIR PRESENT ALTITUDE. THEY TURNED & PROCEEDED OUTBOUND TO LOOSE ALTITUDE. THE CREWTHEN ESTABLISHED THEMSELVES AGAIN ON THE INBOUND COURSE AT AN AIRSPEED OF APPROXIMATELY 120K. THE COPILOT REPORTED THAT AROUND 300 FT "THE BOTTOM DROPPED OUT." THE ACFT CRASHED ONTO THE SURFACE OF A FROZEN COVE & SLID ONTO MARSHY TERRAIN & STOPPED ABOUT 500 FT SHORT OF THE RWY. A NTSB WEATHER SUMMARY SHOWS THAT THE FOLLOWING WIND REGIMES EXISTED WHEN THE ACFT MADE ITS APPROACH: 5000 TO 24000 FT ASL, WIND 220/50; 2400 TO 450 FT ASL, WIND 180/30; 450 FT ASL TO SURFACE, WIND 100/5. USING THE ABOVE WIND REGIMES & ASSUMING AN APPROACH AIRSPEED OF 123K, THE FOLLOWING GROUND SPEEDS WERE COMPUTED: 5000 TO 2400 FT ASL, 155K; 2400 TO 450 FT ASL, 147K; 450 FT ASL TO SURFACE, 118K.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N451C](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N451C-1984-07-12), registration cancelled 1984-07-12, S/N U-66, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH 99
- Registry model: [Beech 99](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-99) (registry code 1154002) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: U66
- Airframe hours: 19188
- Engines: P&W PT6A-20 579 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Pilgrim Airlines
- Registered owner: Pilgrim Airlines
- Departed: NEW HAVEN, CT
- Destination: FOK, WESTHAMPTON, NY
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: GON, Groton-New London, runway 5, 5,000 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 25; flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 7,108 total, 400 in this make and model, 6,812 as pilot in command, 272 in the last 90 days, 90 in the last 30 days, 8 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 100° at 5 knots
- Lowest ceiling: 400 ft overcast
- Temperature: 99 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: G0N

## 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 19820201002109A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820201002109A), Feb 1, 1982: Beech 99, Groton, CT, Destroyed. Aircraft crashed short of runway during instrument approach. Pilot stated bottom dropped out.

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.