Piper PA-28-140 accident near Griswold, Connecticut, November 15, 1992
On November 15, 1992 at about 4:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-140, registered N4492T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Griswold, Connecticut (Spruce airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S IMPROPER PLANNING OR DECISION, BY NOT EITHER USING ALL AVAILABLE RUNWAY OR MAKING A GO AROUND. THE WET GRASS CONDITION OF THE AIRSTRIP WAS A RELATED FACTOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 15, 1992 · about 4:00 pm local time
- Place
- Griswold, Connecticut · Spruce
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140 · all PA-28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N4492T · no longer on the register · serial 28-7225173
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, THE AIRPLANE WAS LANDED ON THE FIRST THIRD OF A 1700 FOOT PRIVATE GRASS AIR STRIP. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE 'BEGAN APPLYING BRAKES MID FIELD, SURFACE WAS SLICK AND WET. BRAKES SEEMED INEFFECTIVE AS PLANE WAS SKIDDING OR HYDROPLANING.' THE AIRPLANE OVERRAN THE RUNWAY AND STRUCK A CEDAR TREE AND FENCE.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 127 hours in all; 127 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 86 as pilot in command; 41 on instruments
- Medical certificate: None (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,377 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 22, 1992; 9 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MMK Meriden CT at 3:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0, 1,700 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.