# NTSB NYC93LA043: Piper PA-28-181, N2131J, Danbury, CT, December 14, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: December 14, 1992, 08:14 local (13:14 UTC)
- Place: Danbury, CT
- Location: 41.3715° N, 73.4822° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at DANBURY MUNI (DXR), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.3715&lon=-73.4822&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 14, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 37279
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC93LA043
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/37279/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC93LA043

## Probable cause

THE PILOT MISJUDGED THE CLEARANCE BETWEEN TWO SNOW BANKS, STRIKING ONE OF THE SNOW BANKS WITH THE AIRPLANE'S RIGHT WING.

## Sequence of events

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

- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, taxi - to takeoff
  - terrain condition - snowbank (cause)
  - clearance - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

DURING TAXI FOR TAKEOFF THE AIRPLANE STRUCK SNOW BANKS THAT WERE LOCATED ON BOTH SIDES OF THE TAXIWAY.  A PILOT THAT TAXIED ON THE SAME TAXIWAY THE NIGHT PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT, IN A HIGH WING AIRPLANE, TOLD THE FAA THAT THE CLEARANCE BETWEEN BOTH SNOW BANKS, '...WOULD BE TIGHT FOR A LOW WING AIRCRAFT.'

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2131J](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2131J), registered now, S/N 28-7990215, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-181
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-181](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-181) (registry code 7102807) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28 7990215
- Airframe hours: 2528
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A4M 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Aviron Corp.
- Registered owner: Aviron Corp.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 20, 1992, 33 hours before
- Departed: DXR
- Destination: SVA, STUART, FL
- Airport: DXR, Danbury, runway 8, 5,000 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 45; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 217 total, 7 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 80° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 2,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 30 °F, dew point 27 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: DXR, 1 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 19921214050099A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19921214050099A), Dec 14, 1992: Piper PA28181, Danbury, CT, Substantial damage. Struck snowbank while taxiing for takeoff. Taxiway not fully plowed in width with large chunks of snow.

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.