Bridgeport Sikorsky Mem Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Bridgeport, Connecticut 06497
Thursday, January 16, 1997 22:25 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

On a night cross-country flight, the pilot accepted a visual approach to his destination. He requested information for the active runway, but was told the tower was closed. The controller stated that the last reported wind was, '0154 Zulu, two eight zero at one two gusts at one seven.' The pilot reported that he misunderstood the controller and thought the 'wind was 010 degrees at 29 knots.' The pilot landed on runway 6, and stated that 'shortly after touch down, a strong quarterly tailwind pushed the aircraft off (the right side) of the runway.' Before stopping, the airplane struck the VASI at the approach end of runway 24. The wind was recorded as 290 degrees at 21 knots with gusts to 28 knots.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions, and his failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during the landing roll. Related factors were: the pilot's misunderstanding of the wind conditions, and the resultant quartering tail wind.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 1/16/1997
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 2225
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City BRIDGEPORT
Event State CONNECTICUT
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 06497
Event Date Year 1997
Event Date Month 1
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport BRIDGEPORT SIKORSKY MEM
Event Location Nearest Airport ID BDR
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 10
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 2154 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID BDR
Elevation of weather observation facility 10
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height 4500
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) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 1
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -7
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 290
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 21
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 28
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1451
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jan 17 1997 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 230
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 12:05PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N1761G
NTSB Number IAD97LA042
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 310F
Aircraft Series Identifier 310F
Aircraft Serial Number 310R1223
Certified Max Gross Weight 5535
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 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Dec 16 1996 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 87
Airframe Hours 5888
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name FLINT AVIATION INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 3375 BRISTOL ROAD
Aircraft Owner City FLINT
Aircraft Owner State MI
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 48433
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 DSRA
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
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) Positioning
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code FNT
Departure City FLINT
Departure State MI
Departure Country
Departure Time 1900
Departure Time Zone CST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code BDR
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
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 6
Runway Length 4677
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --