Piper PA-32RT-300 N36069

Summary

On 31 May 1991 at about 20:45 local time, a Piper PA-32RT-300 registered N36069, operated by Louis R. D'agostino, was involved in an accident near Wallingford, Connecticut, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

31 May 1991 at 20:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Wallingford, Connecticut, United States

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Piper PA-32RT-300

Registration

N36069

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Louis R. D'agostino

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Danielson → Meriden

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

IMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC91FA145

1 person died.

THE PILOT ATTEMPTING A VFR FLIGHT IN ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS, AT AN ALTITUDE THAT WAS INSUFFICIENT TO CLEAR TREES ALONG HIS ROUTE OF FLIGHT. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE PILOT'S LACK OF INSTRUMENT RATING, AND HIS OVERCONFIDENCE TO FLY IN ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

N36069 WAS EN ROUTE TO MERIDEN, CT. THUNDERSTORMS AND RAIN SHOWERS WERE FORECASTED FOR THE ENTIRE AREA. THE NON INSTRUMENT RATED PILOT DID NOT RECEIVE A WEATHER BRIEFING. WITNESSES HEARD AND SAW N36069 FLYING VERY LOW OVER THEIR HOMES JUST BEFORE THE CRASH IN A WOODED AREA, ABOUT 5 MILES FROM THE AIRPORT. THEY SAID THE ENGINE SOUNDED 'VERY LOUD.' SEVERAL WITNESSES SAID IT WAS REINING VERY HARD AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. ONE WITNESS SAID VISIBILITY WAS ONLY ABOUT '150 FEET.'

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.