Waterbury-Oxford Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Oxford, Connecticut 06483
Sunday, June 11, 1995 11:45 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

DURING THE TURN FROM BASE LEG TO FINAL APPROACH, THE PILOT DECIDED TO MAKE A 270 DEGREE TURN TO ALLOW FOR SPACING BETWEEN HIS AIRPLANE AND A LANDING AIRPLANE. THE AIRPLANE COMPLETED THE TURN AND DURING FINAL APPROACH WAS LEFT OF THE RUNWAY'S CENTERLINE. THE PILOT MADE A RIGHT TURN TO ALIGN THE AIRPLANE WITH THE CENTERLINE. DURING THE TURN, THE AIRPLANE'S RIGHT WING CONTACTED THE GROUND AND THE AIRPLANE CARTWHEELED. POSTACCIDENT EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE DID NOT REVEAL ANY AIRFRAME OR ENGINE ANOMALIES. AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, THE AIRPORT'S AUTOMATED WEATHER OBSERVING SYSTEM (AWOS) RECORDED A CEILING OF 200 FEET. THE PILOT STATED THAT THROUGHOUT THE FLIGHT THE CEILING WAS ABOUT 500 TO 700 FEET AGL.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the pilot's failure to maintain sufficient altitude/clearance from terrain. The low ceiling was a related factor in the accident.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/11/1995
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1145
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City OXFORD
Event State CONNECTICUT
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 06483
Event Date Year 1995
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport WATERBURY-OXFORD
Event Location Nearest Airport ID OXC
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 727
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1154 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID OXC
Elevation of weather observation facility 727
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 200
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 3
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 16
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 15
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 210
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 566
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jun 11 1995 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1130
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 7 2000 4:19PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N79175
NTSB Number BFO95LA061
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CONSOLIDATED-VULTEE
Aircraft Model BT-13B
Aircraft Series Identifier BT-13B
Aircraft Serial Number 79-1752
Certified Max Gross Weight 4350
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name LAURENCE R. SMITH
Aircraft Owner Street Address BREEZY HILL ROAD
Aircraft Owner City COLLINSVILLE
Aircraft Owner State CT
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 06022
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code DXR
Departure City DANBURY
Departure State CT
Departure Country
Departure Time 1100
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code OXC
Destination City
Destination State CT
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Approach
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 36
Runway Length 5000
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --