# NTSB NYC92LA051: Piper PA-24-260C, N9423P, Stratford, CT, December 26, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: December 26, 1991, 09:13 local (14:13 UTC)
- Place: Stratford, CT
- Location: 41.1776° N, 73.1305° 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=41.1776&lon=-73.1305&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report May 27, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 37122
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC92LA051
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/37122/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC92LA051

## Probable cause

WATER/ICE IN THE FUEL SYSTEM, WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL STARVATION AND A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER.  FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: FREEZING TEMPERATURES AND INADEQUATE PRE-FLIGHT PREPARATION BY THE PILOT.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, takeoff - initial climb
  - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - fluid,fuel - water (cause)
  - weather condition - temperature extremes (contributing factor)
  - fluid,fuel - ice (cause)
  - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- In flight collision with object, landing
  - object - wall/barricade (contributing factor)

## Analysis

SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, THE PILOT RADIOED THAT HE HAD A PROBLEM.  ATC CLEARED HIM TO LAND ON ANY RUNWAY.  THE PILOT SAID, '. . . I DON'T THINK I CAN MAKE THAT (AIRPORT), I SEE THE HIGHWAY BELOW.'  THE AIRPLANE LANDED AT AN ANGLE TO THE SOUTHBOUND LANES OF INTERSTATE HIGHWAY I-95 AND HIT A GUARD RAIL AND THE CENTER CEMENT BARRIERS.  EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED THAT THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS POSITIONED TO THE LEFT MAIN FUEL TANK.  PIECES OF ICE WERE REMOVED FROM THE LEFT MAIN FUEL TANK, THE FUEL SELECTOR VALVE, AND THE FUEL STRAINER SEDIMENT BOWL.  THE AIRPLANE WAS LAST REFUELED ON 10/27/91, WITH 53.9 GALLONS OF 100 OCTANE FUEL.  THERE WAS NO RECORD FOUND TO INDICATE THE AIRPLANE HAD BEEN FLOWN SINCE THE LAST REFUELING ON THAT DATE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9423P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9423P-1992-02-06), registration cancelled 1992-02-06, S/N 244929 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-24-260C
- Registry model: [Piper PA-24-260](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-260) (registry code 7102406) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 244929
- Airframe hours: 5756
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-N1A5 260 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Stanley Postyn, doing business as Stanco Ltd.
- Registered owner: Stanley Postyn
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, January 17, 1991, 83 hours before
- Destination: OXC, OXFORD, CT
- Airport: BDR, Sikorsky Memorial, runway 29, 4,700 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 47; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,355 total, 716 in this make and model, 1,300 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 250° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 19 °F

## 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 19911226057279A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19911226057279A), Dec 26, 1991: Piper PA24260, Bridgeport, CT, Destroyed. Engine quit on climbout. Crash landed across freeway median. Ice in fuel system. Not fueled for two months.

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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