Griswold Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Madison, Connecticut 06443
Monday, June 1, 1998 14:15 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The airplane was on approach to the 1,863 foot long, asphalt runway. The pilot stated, 'Just before the final flare a hornet distracted me to the extent I lost concentration to the task of landing. I touched down 'long.' Seeing only a short area in which to stop, I applied full power to go around, but there was not enough room before the reeds in the swampy area.' The airplane struck the reeds and nosed over. Examination of the wreckage did not reveal any mechanical malfunctions of the airframe or engine. Wind reported at airports about 15 miles west, and 23 miles east of the accident site at 1345, were from 330 degrees at 15 knots, with 20 knot gusts, and from 350 degrees at 10 knots, respectively.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's improper in-flight decision to continue the landing and his delayed go-around attempt. A factor in this accident was the pilot's diverted attention.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/1/1998
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1415
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City MADISON
Event State CONNECTICUT
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 06443
Event Date Year 1998
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport GRISWOLD
Event Location Nearest Airport ID N04
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 15
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1345 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 270
Weather Observation Facility ID HVN
Elevation of weather observation facility 14
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 15
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 5000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 15
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 22
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 330
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 15
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 20
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) 1185
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jun 1 1998 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1750
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 11:32AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N72657
NTSB Number NYC98LA120
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 Cessna
Aircraft Model 140
Aircraft Series Identifier 140
Aircraft Serial Number 9833
Certified Max Gross Weight 1375
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 No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name SHERMAN M. CLEMENS
Aircraft Owner Street Address 21 LOOMIS AVE
Aircraft Owner City WINDSOR
Aircraft Owner State CT
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 06095
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 7B6
Departure City WAREHOUSE POINT
Departure State CT
Departure Country
Departure Time 1300
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code N04
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 1863
Runway Width 50
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --