Bennington State Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Bennington, Vermont 05201
Tuesady, November 29, 1983 14:50 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE ACFT CRASHED INTO MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN AT ABOUT THE 1,800 FT LEVEL APPROXIMATELY 2 MI SOUTH OF THE ARPT. THE ACFT HAD BEEN CLEARED FOR THE VOR-A APPROACH. THE MISSED APPROACH POINT IS THE 6 DME POINT FROM THE CAMBRIDGE VOR ON THE 159 DEG RADIAL. MDA IS 1,740 FT. THE PLT STATED THE ACFT'S DME WAS INTERMITTENT, BELIEVED HE HAD A 10 KT TAILWIND & USED THE 3 MINUTE TIME FROM THE FAF TO THE MAP. ACCORDING TO THE APPROACH PROCEDURE A 3 MINUTE TIME IS USED FOR AN APPROACH SPEED OF 120 KTS. RECORDED RADAR DATA SHOWED THAT THE ACFT'S GROUND SPEED ON FINAL FLUCTUATED BETWEEN 169 & 184 KTS. A WITNESS ON THE ARPT DESCRIBED THE WX AS CEILING INDEFINITE ZERO OBSCURED & VISIBILITY ZERO IN FOG.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 11/29/1983
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1450
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City BENNINGTON
Event State VERMONT
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 05201
Event Date Year 1983
Event Date Month 11
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport BENNINGTON STATE
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 5B5
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 2
Degrees magnetic from airport 160
Airport Elevation 828
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Witness
Time of the weather observation 1358 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 340
Weather Observation Facility ID 5B5
Elevation of weather observation facility 828
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 2
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Obscured
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 0
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 3
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 270
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 3
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 3
Injury Total All 4
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2582
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 23855
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 9:16AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2958R
NTSB Number NYC84FA042
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-34-200T
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-34-200T
Aircraft Serial Number 34-7970403
Certified Max Gross Weight 4570
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 6
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jun 10 1983 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 252
Airframe Hours 1604
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name SWEETWATER DRILLING SUPPLIES,
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1200 IMLAY CITY ROAD
Aircraft Owner City LAPEER
Aircraft Owner State MI
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 48446
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name PRONTO AIR LIGHT
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address TWIN CLUB P.O. BOX 668
Operator City WESTPORT CT
Operator State MI
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 06881
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
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 AIY
Departure City ATLANTIC CITY
Departure State NJ
Departure Country
Departure Time 1308
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Approach
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 3700
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --