Piper PA-32-300 accident near Bridgeport, Connecticut, June 26, 2011
On June 26, 2011 at about 1:45 am local time, a Piper PA-32-300, registered N600DK, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern final) near Bridgeport, Connecticut (Igor Sikorsky Memorial Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a blast fence on final approach to land.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 26, 2011 · about 1:45 am local time
- Place
- Bridgeport, Connecticut · Igor Sikorsky Memorial Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32-300 · all PA-32-300s on the register
- Registration
- N600DK · no longer on the register · serial 32-7340167
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The purpose of the flight was for the pilot to regain night currency, which had lapsed two weeks prior. The pilot stated that he intended to fly three landing pattern approaches and perform three full stop landings. According to the pilot, the take off, and initial climbout to a left downwind were normal. The pilot reported that there was a slight haze in the vicinity of the airport. While turning to the base leg of the approach, the pilot trimmed the airplane for 90 mph and lowered the flaps to the "first notch." The pilot reported the he saw "two white lights" on the vertical approach slope indicator, which indicated that he was above the glideslope, so he adjusted the trim to maintain 80 mph and lowered the flaps to the "third notch." The airplane's left wing impacted a 12-foot-tall blast fence, which was located 20 feet from the end of the runway, resulting in the separation of the left wing from the fuselage. After the accident, the pilot stated that the blast fence was indistinguishable from the runway threshold markings. The blast fence was properly marked with red and white checker markings on the interior side and was not required to be lit by Federal Aviation Administration facility requirements. The pilot was familiar with the airport.
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
What happened, in order
- Altitude deviation during approach (VFR pattern final)
- Controlled flight into terrain or object (CFIT) during approach (VFR pattern final) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Airport structure › Contributed to outcome
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Altitude › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 379 hours in all; 90 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 295 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 5, 2011
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,297 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 5, 2011; 35 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540 SER (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Three Wing Flying Services
The flight
- Departed from: KBDR Bridgeport CT at 1:25 am
- Destination: KBDR Bridgeport CT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 4,677 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 200° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.86 inHg
- Observation at 1:52 am from KBDR
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
6 documents, released by the NTSB on September 27, 2011. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot Interview Summary | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Correspondance with Operator | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Bridgeport (Bdr) Meteorological Observations | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Photo 1 - Wreckage Overview | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 6 | Photo 2 - View of Blast Fence | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.