Piper PA28-235 accident near Chester, Connecticut, August 8, 2000
On August 8, 2000 at about 9:30 pm local time, a Piper PA28-235, registered N8809W, was substantially damaged in an accident near Chester, Connecticut (Chester airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The CFI's delayed remedial action.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 8, 2000 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Chester, Connecticut · Chester
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA28-235 · all PA28-235s on the register
- Registration
- N8809W · registry record · serial 28-10354
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private pilot was performing a soft field landing as part of a biennial flight review that was being conducted by a certificated flight instructor (CFI). The airplane was on approach to a 2,566 foot long, asphalt runway, with a displaced threshold of 559 feet. According to the CFI, when the airplane was on short final, the airplane entered a 'down draft that greatly increased the sink rate.' As he was about to order a go-around, the private pilot applied full engine power and raised the airplane's nose; however, the airplane contacted bushes and a fence located prior to the runway threshold. A witness stated that the airplane looked 'low and slow' while on final approach. As the airplane continued to descend towards the fence which preceded the runway, he observed the airplane 'pitch up abruptly' and then suddenly pitch back down. Examination of the wreckage did not reveal any pre-impact malfunctions. Winds reported at an airport about 24 miles east of the airport, were from 240 degrees at 6 knots.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,700 hours in all; 4 in this make and model; 44 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 2,600 as pilot in command; 1,000 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,160 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 1, 2000; 51 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 3B9 at 8:10 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 2,566 ft by 50 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:56 pm from GON, 24 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.