Piper PA-28-151 accident near Willimantic, Connecticut, November 18, 1992
On November 18, 1992 at about 3:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-151, registered N8431F, was substantially damaged in an accident near Willimantic, Connecticut (Windham Airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A CRACKED NO. 2 ENGINE CYLINDER, AND THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ATTAIN THE PROPER TOUCHDOWN POINT DURING THE FORCED LANDING, DUE TO EXCESSIVE AIRSPEED, WHICH RESULTED IN AN OVERRUN OF THE RUNWAY. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS AN IMPROPER WELD REPAIR ON THE NO. 2 CYLINDER.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 18, 1992 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- Willimantic, Connecticut · Windham Airport
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-151 · all PA-28-151s on the register
- Registration
- N8431F · no longer on the register · serial 287715261
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE LOST POWER DURING TAKEOFF. PARTIAL POWER WAS AVAILABLE, SO HE ELECTED TO TURN 180 DEGREES AND PERFORM A DOWNWIND LANDING ON THE RUNWAY. THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN ON THE FAR END OF THE RUNWAY AT '70 KNOTS' WITH A '10 MPH TAIL WIND' AND RAN OFF THE END. IT THEN ROLLED ONTO WET GRASS AND SLID INTO A FENCE. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE REVEALED A CRACK IN THE NO.2 CYLINDER HEAD NEAR A WELD REPAIR. SOURCE OF THE WELD REPAIR WAS NOT DETERMINED.
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: student
- Flight time: 90 hours in all; 90 in this make and model; 16 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 34 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 2,325 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D3G (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Windham Aviation, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: IJD at 3:30 pm
- Destination: IJD
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 2,797 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 3,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 32°F (0°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.