# NTSB NYC88FA093: Piper PA-34-200T, N2469M, Stratford, CT, February 20, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: February 19, 1988, 23:22 local (Feb 20, 1988, 04:22 UTC)
- Place: Stratford, CT
- Location: 41.1536° N, 73.1402° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs from NTSB’s distance and direction from BRIDGEPORT/SIKORSKY (BDR), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.1536&lon=-73.1402&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report September 19, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 35998
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC88FA093
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/35998/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC88FA093

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, approach - faf/outer marker to threshold (ifr)
  - weather condition - high wind (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - rain (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - ifr procedure - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - proper glidepath - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - decision height - not identified, pilot in command (cause)
  - missed approach - not performed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - inadequate transition/upgrade training, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - water,rough

## 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](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2469M-1990-07-30), registration cancelled 1990-07-30, S/N 347870084 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-34-200T
- Registry model: [Piper PA-34-200T](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-34-200t) (registry code 7103406) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 34-7870084
- Engines: 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

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 48; 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19880219047889A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880219047889A), Feb 19, 1988: Piper PA34200T, Bridgeport, CT, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Lost control on ILS approach and crashed into water short of runway. Left engine found shut down. No defects found.

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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