- Date
- February 19, 1988, 23:22 local (Feb 20, 1988, 04:22 UTC)
- Place
- Stratford, CT
- Injuries
- 2 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N2469MPiper PA-34-200T
- Weather
- Instrument (IMC) · Night/dark
- Status
- Completed · report September 19, 1989
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19880219047889A
- Case key
- 35998
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot and pilot-rated pax received vectors for multiple ILS approaches in deteriorating conditions. On the first attempt the aircraft passed over witnesses but was off course and not in a position to land. The second attempt was aborted before reaching the airport. During the third attempt radar service was terminated and the pilot was given a frequency change. The aircraft crashed into water about one mile from the runway. Post-accident exam did not disclose any malfunction with the aircraft systems. Both engines were test-run to full power. The investigation disclosed that neither pilot was FAR part 135 qualified for this flight. The aircraft was being operated with engines over tbo, transponder test due, and the 100 hr inspection overdue. The pilots did not report any difficulties with the aircraft prior to impact.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N2469M
- Reported as
- Piper PA-34-200T
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 34-7870084
- Engine
- Continental TSIO-360-E, 200 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Part 135
- Operator
- U.S. Express
- Registered owner
- William B. Thurber
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · November 7, 1987 · 208 hours before
- Departed
- ALB · Albany, NY
- Destination
- BDR · Bridgeport, CT
- Flight plan
- IFR
- Airport
- BDR · Igor I. Sikorsky Memorial, runway 6, 4,677 × 150 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 48
- Certificates
- Airline transport, Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 1,769 total · 19 in this make and model · 1,434 as pilot in command · 79 in the last 90 days · 17 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Instrument (IMC) · Night/dark
- Wind
- 90° at 21 knots
- Visibility
- 1 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 400 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 37 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- BDR, 2 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.