Groton-New London Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Groton, Connecticut 06340
Monday, February 1, 1982 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

AFTER CROSSING THE MONDI INTERSECTION INBOUND FOR AN ILS RWY 5 APCH, THE CAPTAIN FELT THAT A PROPER DESCENT WAS NOT POSSIBLE DUE TO A STRONG TAILWIND & THEIR PRESENT ALTITUDE. THEY TURNED & PROCEEDED OUTBOUND TO LOOSE ALTITUDE. THE CREWTHEN ESTABLISHED THEMSELVES AGAIN ON THE INBOUND COURSE AT AN AIRSPEED OF APPROXIMATELY 120K. THE COPILOT REPORTED THAT AROUND 300 FT "THE BOTTOM DROPPED OUT." THE ACFT CRASHED ONTO THE SURFACE OF A FROZEN COVE & SLID ONTO MARSHY TERRAIN & STOPPED ABOUT 500 FT SHORT OF THE RWY. A NTSB WEATHER SUMMARY SHOWS THAT THE FOLLOWING WIND REGIMES EXISTED WHEN THE ACFT MADE ITS APPROACH: 5000 TO 24000 FT ASL, WIND 220/50; 2400 TO 450 FT ASL, WIND 180/30; 450 FT ASL TO SURFACE, WIND 100/5. USING THE ABOVE WIND REGIMES & ASSUMING AN APPROACH AIRSPEED OF 123K, THE FOLLOWING GROUND SPEEDS WERE COMPUTED: 5000 TO 2400 FT ASL, 155K; 2400 TO 450 FT ASL, 147K; 450 FT ASL TO SURFACE, 118K.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 2/1/1982
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 45
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City GROTON
Event State CONNECTICUT
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 06340
Event Date Year 1982
Event Date Month 2
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport GROTON-NEW LONDON
Event Location Nearest Airport ID GON
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Unknown
Time of the weather observation 2400
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID G0N
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height 400
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) 0
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 37
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 0
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 100
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 0
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 2
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 5
Injury Total All 7
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1854
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information
Date of most recent change to record Oct 31 2002 4:04PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\ZUZL
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N451C
NTSB Number NYC82AA028
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name BEECH
Aircraft Model 99
Aircraft Series Identifier 99
Aircraft Serial Number U66
Certified Max Gross Weight 10400
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class Unknown
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 17
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 6
Airframe Hours 19188
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name PILGRIM AIRLINES
Aircraft Owner Street Address TERMINAL BLDG.
Aircraft Owner City MANCHESTER
Aircraft Owner State NH
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 03031
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name PILGRIM AIRLINES
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address TERMINAL BLDG.
Operator City MANCHESTER
Operator State NH
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 03031
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 Scheduled
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Domestic
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Passenger Only
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Unknown
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code
Departure City NEW HAVEN
Departure State CT
Departure Country
Departure Time 21
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code FOK
Destination City WESTHAMPTON
Destination State NY
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Approach
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 18 2002 4:50PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 5
Runway Length 5000
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --