Griswold Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Madison, Connecticut 06643
Saturday, June 25, 1983 13:50 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND WHILE PERFORMING AEROBATIC MANEUVERS DURING AN AIRSHOW. WITNESSES SAID IT APPEARED THAT THE PILOT WAS HAVING TROUBLE STAYING IN THE ASSIGNED AREA FOR THE MANEUVERS BECAUSE OF HIGH WINDS. THE WINDS WERE ESTIMATED AT 20 KTS GUSTING TO 25 KTS FROM 330 DEGREES. THE ACFT WAS NOT ONLY DRIFTING WITH THE WIND BUT THE PILOT WAS ALLOWING EACH MANEUVER TO GO LOWER AND WIDER AS LATER VIEWED ON VIDEO. THE LAST MANEUVER WAS A SNAP ROLL WHICH APPEARED TO BE IMPROPERLY EXECUTED RESULTING IN A LOSS OF ALTITUDE AND IMPACT WITH THE GROUND/WATER. THE ACFT COCKPIT AREA WAS SUBMERGED IN WATER BUT THE PILOT WAS RESCUED. HE SUCCUMBED TO HIS INJURIES, HOWEVER 4 DAYS LATER.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/25/1983
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1350
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City MADISON
Event State CONNECTICUT
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 06643
Event Date Year 1983
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 Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport 110
Airport Elevation 15
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Witness
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 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
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) 20
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 27
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 330
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 20
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 25
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 1500
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 1
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency FAA
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1051
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 21359
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 9:15AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2979T
NTSB Number NYC83FNE03
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 BELLANCA
Aircraft Model 8KCAB
Aircraft Series Identifier 8KCAB
Aircraft Serial Number 641-80
Certified Max Gross Weight 1800
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 Apr 23 1983 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 15
Airframe Hours 213
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name HAROLD C. POPE
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1231 MOOSE HILL ROAD
Aircraft Owner City GUILFORD
Aircraft Owner State CT
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 06437
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name JAMES F. SUCHMAN
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address ONE NORTHFIELD
Operator City WEST HARTFORD
Operator State CT
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 06107
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) Unknown
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1330
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Maneuvering
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:36AM
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 --