# NTSB NYC89LA034: Cessna 340, N468CM, Oxford, CT, November 20, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: November 20, 1988, 18:20 local (23:20 UTC)
- Place: Oxford, CT
- Location: 41.4340° N, 73.1168° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Oxford, CT, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.4340&lon=-73.1168&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious, 3 minor
- Status: Completed, report January 31, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 36337
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC89LA034
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/36337/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC89LA034

## Probable cause

COLLISION WITH TREES AND TERRAIN DUE TO THE PILOT EXCEEDING APPROACH MINIMUM ALTITUDE DURING AN ILS APPROACH.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with object, approach - faf/outer marker to threshold (ifr)
  - light condition - dusk (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - rain (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - unfavorable wind (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - windshear (contributing factor)
  - ifr procedure - not followed, pilot in command (cause)
  - decision height - not used, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

ACCORDING TO WITNESSES, THE WX WAS CHANGING FROM MINUTE TO MINUTE AS THE ACFT WAS ARRIVING. WITNESSES RPRTD THE WIND WAS BLOWING FROM EAST TO NORTHEAST AT 10 TO 15 KTS, RAIN FALL WAS VARYING FROM STRONG TO PERIODS OF LIGHT RAIN, AND THE CEILING (CLOUD LEVEL) WAS VARIABLE. THE PLT BEGAN AN ILS RWY 36 APCH; HOWEVER, BEFORE REACHING THE ARPT, THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH TREES & CRASHED ABOUT 2 MI SHORT OF THE RWY. THE PLT WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED & COULD NOT REMEMBER THE ACDNT, BUT DID RECALLED RECEIVING A WIND SHEAR ALERT. THE PLT RPRTD AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH THE AUTOPILOT HEADING MODE; HOWEVER, NO OTHER PREIMPACT MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE OF THE ACFT WAS EVIDENT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N468CM](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N468CM-1989-04-04), registration cancelled 1989-04-04, S/N 340A1017 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 340
- Registry model: [Cessna 340A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-340a) (registry code 2076405) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 340A1017
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-520 310 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Buck Hilkert, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: ARB, ANN ARBOR, MI
- Destination: OXC
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: OXC, Oxford Waterbury, runway 36, 5,000 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 47; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 22,092 total, 25 in this make and model, 21,700 as pilot in command, 312 in the last 90 days, 89 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Dusk
- Wind: variable at 15 knots
- Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 50 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: BDR

## 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 19881120051409A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19881120051409A), Nov 20, 1988: Cessna 340A, Oxford, CT, Destroyed. On ILS approach struck trees. Descended below dh. Rain and turbulence were factors. Stall warning heard prior crash

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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