Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Bridgeport, Connecticut 06612
Sunday, November 12, 1989 6:40 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

WHILE EN ROUTE TO BRIDGEPORT, CT, THE PILOT WAS PERFORMING HIS LANDING CHECKS, WHEN HE PLACED THE MIXTURE CONTROL TO FULL RICH AND TWISTED THE VERNIER TO ENSURE IT WAS ALL THE WAY IN. HE HEARD A SNAP AND PULLED THE CONTROL OUT 1/2 TO 3/4 INCH TO SEE IF IT WAS STILL FUNCTIONAL. AT THAT TIME, THE ENGINE POWER DESCREASED TO APPROXIMATELY A FLIGHT IDLE CONDITION. THE THROTTLE AND PROP CONTROL APPEARED TO WORK NORMALLY. BRIDGEPORT TOWER WAS INFORMED THE PLT WAS GOING TO DITCH THE AIRPLANE. DURING THE DITCHING, THE SHOULDER HARNESS PREVENTED INJURY. THE PILOT USED HIS BRIEFCASE AND TURNED HIS LUNCH COOLER UPSIDE DOWN FOR FLOATATION IN THE WATER. THE AIRPLANE WAS NOT RECOVERED.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE AIRPLANE ENGINE THROTTLE CABLE FAILED AND THE ENGINE POWER REDUCED TO IDLE OVER LONG ISLAND SOUND, RESULTING IN THE DITCHING OF THE AIRPLANE.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 11/12/1989
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 640
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City BRIDGEPORT
Event State CONNECTICUT
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 06612
Event Date Year 1989
Event Date Month 11
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation --
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 Dawn
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Unknown
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) 10
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 310
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 25
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 28
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) 2363
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Nov 12 1989 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1000
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 42818
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 1:13PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N24569
NTSB Number NYC90LA026
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 BEECH
Aircraft Model A24R
Aircraft Series Identifier A24R
Aircraft Serial Number MC-121
Certified Max Gross Weight 2750
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 Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Aug 1 1989 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 12
Airframe Hours 2550
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name JOHN R. CASEY
Aircraft Owner Street Address 6 ROCK HILL ROAD
Aircraft Owner City ROCKY POINT
Aircraft Owner State NY
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 11778
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) Business
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code HWV
Departure City SHIRLEY
Departure State NY
Departure Country
Departure Time 630
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code BDR
Destination City BRIDGEPORT
Destination State CT
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 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --