Piper PA-32-300 N4106W

Summary

On 11 October 1989 at about 23:10 local time, a Piper PA-32-300 registered N4106W was involved in an accident near Glastonbury, Connecticut, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

11 October 1989 at 23:10

Classification

Accident

Location

Glastonbury, Connecticut, United States

Nearest airport

Hartford Brainard (HFD)

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Piper PA-32-300

Registration

N4106W

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Glen Falls → Hartford

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Night/Bright

NTSB number

NYC90FA011

2 people died.

THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE ALTITUDE CONTROL DURING MANEUVERING FLIGHT. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE FAILURE OF THE AIRPLANE'S ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND THE PILOT'S OPERATION AT NIGHT, WITHOUT EMERGENCY LIGHTING (FLASHLIGHT).

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PILOTS REPORTED SIX MILES SOUTHWEST OF THE AIRPORT AND INDICATED THEY WERE HAVING A COMMUNICATIONS PROBLEM AND WERE USING A HANDHELD RADIO. THE FLIGHT WAS ISSUED TRAFFIC FROM THE TOWER AND GIVEN CLEARANCE TO LAND AT THE AIRPORT. THE PILOTS INDICATED TO THE TOWER THEY MIGHT HAVE TO GO AROUND. THE TOWER ISSUED THEM INSTRUCTIONS TO GO AROUND, MAKE A RIGHT 360 DEGREE TURN, AND REPORT BACK ON FINAL. THE AIRPLANE WAS SEEN MAKING A SLOW DESCENDING RIGHT TURN. AFTER 120 DEGREES OF TURN, IT DISAPPEARED BELOW THE TREELINE. THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED OVER UNLIT, WOODED TERRAIN DURING THE HOURS OF DARKNESS.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.