Piper PA28 accident near Simsbury, Connecticut, November 23, 2019
On November 23, 2019 at about 1:45 pm local time, a 1964 Piper PA28, registered N5776W, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Simsbury, Connecticut (Simsbury airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The automobile driver's incursion onto an active runway, which resulted in a collision with a landing airplane.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 23, 2019 · about 1:45 pm local time
- Place
- Simsbury, Connecticut · Simsbury · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA28 150, built 1964 · all PA28s on the register
- Registration
- N5776W · no longer on the register · serial 28-1611
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight instructor reported that, while the student pilot was landing, a car drove onto the runway and struck the left wing. Subsequently, the airplane nosed over. The vehicle's driver reported that he stopped at the entrance of the runway and looked left and right to make sure it was clear. While crossing the runway, he heard glass shatter and felt a heavy impact. He did not see the airplane until after the collision. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings, the fuselage, and the empennage. The instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Ground collision during landing (landing roll) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Ground vehicle › Ability to respond/compensate
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Ground vehicle › Effect on operation
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Other/unknown
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 50 hours in all; 20 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 5 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 450 hours in all; 45 in this make and model; 163 in the last 90 days; 56 in the last 30 days; 389 as pilot in command; 205 on instruments
- Last flight review: August 1, 2019
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,733 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 2, 2019
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2A (piston); 1,744 hours total
- Operator: Future Flyers Of Connecticut Llc
The flight
- Departed from: 4B8 Plainville CT at 1:20 pm
- Destination: 4B9 Simsbury CT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 03, 2,205 ft by 50 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 9 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 39°F (4°C), dew point 21°F (-6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.01 inHg
- Observation at 1:51 pm from KBDL, 4 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on January 16, 2020. 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 | Drivers Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Accident Photo | 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.