Piper PA-34-200T accident near Simsbury, Connecticut, May 8, 1993
On May 8, 1993 at about 11:45 am local time, a Piper PA-34-200T, registered N47448, was substantially damaged in an accident near Simsbury, Connecticut (Simsbury airport). It was a personal 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
LACK OF BRAKING ACTION FROM THE RIGHT BRAKE. THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ATTAIN THE PROPER TOUCHDOWN POINT 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
- May 8, 1993 · about 11:45 am local time
- Place
- Simsbury, Connecticut · Simsbury
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-34-200T · all PA-34-200Ts on the register
- Registration
- N47448 · registry record · serial 34-7770396
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS LANDING ON A 2200 FOOT LONG RUNWAY. HE STATED THAT THIS WAS A NORMAL SHORT FIELD LANDING WITH FULL FLAPS, AND UPON TOUCHDOWN HE RETRACTED HIS FLAPS AND PROCEEDED TO APPLY HIS BRAKES. HE STATED THAT HIS LEFT BRAKE LOCKED UP AND HIS RIGHT BRAKE FAILED WHICH MADE THE AIRPLANE DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. HE ALSO REPORTED THAT THE MECHANIC HAD JUST WORKED 16 HOURS BLEEDING THE BRAKE SYSTEM, AND REPLACING BOTH BRAKE CYLINDERS. THE FAA REPORTED THAT THE AIRPLANE HAD TOUCHED DOWN HALF WAY DOWN THE RUNWAY, AND THERE WAS 535 FEET OF SKID MARKS ON THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT STATED THAT THE ACCIDENT COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED IF THE BRAKES AND RELATED SYSTEMS WERE EXAMINED FOR LEAKING FIXTURES THAT ALLOW AIR INTO THE SYSTEM. THE AIRPLANE EXITED THE RUNWAY AND THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR SHEARED OFF.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 570 hours in all; 50 in this make and model; 490 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 4,570 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-360-E (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: POU Poughkeepsie NY at 10:00 am
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 21, 2,200 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°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.