Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Pomfret, Connecticut 06258
Saturday, August 27, 1988 22:24 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PIPER ARROW PA-28R-201, HAD ASKED ATC FOR VECTORS TO WINDAM AIRPORT. AFTER BEING VECTORED THE PILOT REQUESTED HIS DISTANCE FROM THE AIRPORT. HE WAS TOLD THAT HE WAS 12 MILES FROM THE AIRPORT, THE PILOT THEN DECIDED TO DESCEND. ATC ADVISED THE PILOT TO DESCEND AT PILOTS DESCRETION AND TO MAINTAIN VFR. RADAR CONTACT WAS LOST AT ABOUT 2100 FEET. WHEN ATC TRIED TO CONTACT THE PILOT AND ADVISE HIM THAT RADAR CONTACT HAD BEEN LOST, THERE WAS NO REPLY. WEATHER IN THE AREA WAS IMC AND THE PILOT WAS NOT INSTRUMENT RATED. THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED IN A WOODED AREA, IN AN ALMOST VERTICAL ATTITUDE. NOTHING WAS FOUND TO INDICATE ANY MALFUNCTION OF THE AIRCRAFT.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/27/1988
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 2224
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City POMFRET
Event State CONNECTICUT
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 06258
Event Date Year 1988
Event Date Month 8
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 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 2050 LST
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 300
Weather Observation Facility ID BDL
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 25
Time Zone of the weather observation LST
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height 1300
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) 4
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 23
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 21
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 160
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) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 0
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 4
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 4
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2182
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Aug 28 1988 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 140
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 38693
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 12:04PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N3478M
NTSB Number NYC88FA229
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-28R-201
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-28R-201
Aircraft Serial Number 7837116
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 --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Yes
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name ROBERT SILVER
Aircraft Owner Street Address RFD 1, RT 32
Aircraft Owner City NORTH FRANKLIN
Aircraft Owner State CT
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 06254
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name ROBERT SILVER
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address RFD 1, RT 32
Operator City N. FRANKLIN
Operator State CT
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 06254
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 EEN
Departure City KEENE
Departure State NH
Departure Country
Departure Time 2125
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code 5B0
Destination City WINDHAM ARPT
Destination State CT
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Descent
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 0
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --