Piper PA-28R-180 accident near Milford, CT
On December 30, 2001, a Piper PA-28R-180 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Milford, CT. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- December 30, 2001
- Place
- Milford, CT
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28R-180 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 41.182°N, 73.027°W
- NTSB ID
- 20020110X00057
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On December 30, 2001, about 1810 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-28R-180, N7427J, was substantially damaged when it impacted Long Island Sound, near Milford, Connecticut. The certificated commercial pilot was fatally injured. An instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan was filed for the flight which departed the Burke Lakefront Airport (BKL), Cleveland, Ohio, about 1530, destined for the Igor I. Sikorsky Memorial Airport (BDR), Bridgeport, Connecticut. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. A review of air traffic communications revealed that the pilot contacted the Bridgeport Air Traffic Control Tower at 1753, and stated he was nine miles northwest of the airport, inbound for landing. The tower controller instructed the pilot to "report right base runway two nine," which the pilot acknowledged. At 1756, the pilot reported, "I've lost sight of the field, I'm looking for it." The pilot was asked to report his position and he stated he was "straight over the shoreline and a little bit to the east of the airport." The controller unsuccessfully attempted to visually locate the airplane by having the pilot flash his landing light several times. At 1757, the pilot again reported that he did not have the airport in sight, and in response, the controller reported that he would illuminate the runway lights to their full intensity. At 1758, the pilot stated, "I believe I see the airport now," and reported he was "due south" of it. About 30 seconds later, the controller was still unable to locate th
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to follow the published IFR approach procedure, which resulted in a premature descent and subsequent impact with water. A factor was the night, overwater visual conditions.
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Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
