Windham Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Willimantic, Connecticut 06266
Wednesday, November 18, 1992 10:30 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE STUDENT PILOT REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE LOST POWER DURING TAKEOFF. PARTIAL POWER WAS AVAILABLE, SO HE ELECTED TO TURN 180 DEGREES AND PERFORM A DOWNWIND LANDING ON THE RUNWAY. THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN ON THE FAR END OF THE RUNWAY AT '70 KNOTS' WITH A '10 MPH TAIL WIND' AND RAN OFF THE END. IT THEN ROLLED ONTO WET GRASS AND SLID INTO A FENCE. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE REVEALED A CRACK IN THE NO.2 CYLINDER HEAD NEAR A WELD REPAIR. SOURCE OF THE WELD REPAIR WAS NOT DETERMINED.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A CRACKED NO. 2 ENGINE CYLINDER, AND THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ATTAIN THE PROPER TOUCHDOWN POINT DURING THE FORCED LANDING, DUE TO EXCESSIVE AIRSPEED, WHICH RESULTED IN AN OVERRUN OF THE RUNWAY. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS AN IMPROPER WELD REPAIR ON THE NO. 2 CYLINDER.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 11/18/1992
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1030
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City WILLIMANTIC
Event State CONNECTICUT
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 06266
Event Date Year 1992
Event Date Month 11
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport WINDHAM AIRPORT
Event Location Nearest Airport ID IJD
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 247
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 3000
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) 5
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 0
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 360
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
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 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1021
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Nov 18 1992 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1100
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 51500
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 3:26PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N8431F
NTSB Number BFO93LA010
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 PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-28-151
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-28-151
Aircraft Serial Number 287715261
Certified Max Gross Weight 2325
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 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Jan 2 2000 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name WINDHAM AVIATION, INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 136
Aircraft Owner City WILLIMANTIC
Aircraft Owner State CT
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 06226
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name WINDHAM AVIATION, INC.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address P.O. BOX 136
Operator City WILLIMANTIC
Operator State CT
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 06226
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) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code IJD
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1030
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code IJD
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 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 18
Runway Length 2797
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --