Piper PA-28R-180 accident near Danbury, Connecticut, September 18, 1997
On September 18, 1997 at about 9:35 am local time, a Piper PA-28R-180, registered N3102R, was destroyed in an accident near Danbury, Connecticut (Danbury Muni airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's improper planning/decision to not use actual occupant weights and compute takeoff data, which resulted in an overweight takeoff towards rising terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 18, 1997 · about 9:35 am local time
- Place
- Danbury, Connecticut · Danbury Muni
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28R-180 · all PA-28R-180s on the register
- Registration
- N3102R · no longer on the register · serial 28R-31108
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot said that during initial climb the engine lost power, and they crashed into trees. Examination of the airplane did not disclose any evidence of mechanical malfunction with the engine or the airplane. The three passengers said they did not see the pilot complete a weight and balance, neither did he ask them what their weights were, nor did he weigh their baggage. When their actual weights and baggage were computed, the airplane was 233 pounds over its maximum takeoff gross weight 2,500 pounds. One of the occupants said that he heard the stall warning horn just before the airplane struck the trees.
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: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,745 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,096 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 26, 1997
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-B1E (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: DXR at 9:35 am
- Destination: 4G7 Fairmont WV
- Flight plan: not recorded
- Runway 26, 4,422 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dawn
- Visibility: 1.8 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 25,000 ft; scat at 800 ft
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:45 am from DXR
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 | 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.