Piper PA31 N990RA
28 April 1994 · Stratford, Connecticut, United States · Fatal
Summary
On 28 April 1994 at about 02:56 local time, a Piper PA31 registered N990RA, operated by Action Air Charters, was involved in an accident near Stratford, Connecticut, United States. 9 people were on board and 8 died, one was seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 02:56
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Stratford, Connecticut, United States
- Nearest airport
- Sikorsky Memorial (BDR)
- Coordinates
- Not recorded
- Aircraft
- Piper PA31
- Registration
- N990RA
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 2
- Operator
- Action Air Charters
- Operating rule
- Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
- Purpose of flight
- Unknown
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Atlantic City → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Destroyed
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Night/Dark
- NTSB number
- DCA94MA053
People
8 people died.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
The failure of the captain to use the available ILS glideslope, his failure to execute a go-around when conditions were not suitable for landing, and his failure to land the airplane at a point sufficient to allow for a safe stopping distance; the fatalities were caused by the presence of the nonfrangible blast fence and the absence of a safety area at the end of the runway. (NTSB Report AAR-94/08)
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
The captain had ILS glideslope data available during the approach but did not fly the ILS glideslope. The partial obscuration of the airport environment, due to ground fog, contributed to the captain's failure to recognize that the airplane was high on both his approach and landing. The destruction of the airplane and the resulting occupant injuries were a direct result of the collision with the blast fence. FAA interaction & communication with local communities, although persistent, were unsuccessful in gaining support for runway safety area improvements and for the installation of approach lighting for runway 6. The passenger seats had been improperly assembled using unapproved parts, and seat belts had been installed incorrectly.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Piper PA31 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 May 1997 | Piper PA31-350 | St Thomas | - | No injuries | - |
| 10 Dec 1991 | Piper PA31-350 | Temple Bar, Arizona, United States | Las Vegas Airlines, Inc. | Fatal | 5 |
| 29 Nov 1990 | Piper PA31 | Enumclaw, Washington, United States | Bramwell, Steven T | Serious injuries | - |
| 26 Apr 1990 | Piper PA31-325 | Cedar City, Utah, United States | 18PP, Inc. | Fatal | 4 |
| 6 Dec 1999 | Piper PA31-350 | Rand, South Africa | Flightline Charter Services CC | Fatal | 10 |
| 24 Oct 1983 | Piper PA31-350 | Chillicothe, Missouri, United States | - | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24 Jul 1994 | Aces High CUBY B | Waterbury, Connecticut, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 31 Jul 1994 | Arthur Chase EAA BIPLANE | North Canaan, Connecticut, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 31 Jul 1994 | Piper PA-28-181 | Bridgeport, Connecticut, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 4 Apr 1994 | Piper PA-28R-200 | Willimantic, Connecticut, United States | Phillip Baribault | No injuries | - |
| 17 Jun 1994 | Piper PA-31-350 | Oxford, Connecticut, United States | The Plane Broker | No injuries | - |
| 24 Jul 1994 | Mooney M20C | Wallingford, Connecticut, United States | - | Fatal | 2 |