Piper PA-28-161 accident near Madison, Connecticut, October 11, 2004
On October 11, 2004 at about 9:48 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-161, registered N233PA, was substantially damaged in an accident near Madison, Connecticut. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A loss of engine power due to separation of the propeller due to under-torqued retention bolts.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 11, 2004 · about 9:48 pm local time
- Place
- Madison, Connecticut · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-161 · all PA-28-161s on the register
- Registration
- N233PA · registry record · serial 28-7816676
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot made a "Mayday" call, and reported that he was at 4,000 feet msl and descending without engine power. An approach controller acknowledged the pilot's distress call, and attempted to direct him to a nearby airport. The pilot subsequently elected to perform a forced landing to a field; however, during the landing the airplane impacted a private residence. A witness, located about 4 miles north of the accident site, saw the accident airplane flying normally, then heard a "bang." He then heard about 5 seconds of intermittent engine noise, followed by white smoke, which began trailing behind the airplane as it flew. The propeller was found about 3.4 miles from where the airplane came to rest. Examination of the airframe revealed no mechanical anomalies, and examination of the engine revealed damage consistent with an engine overspeed. Examination of the propeller, propeller flange, and associated hardware revealed signatures consistent with insufficient propeller retention bolt torque.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 96 hours in all; 76 in this make and model
- Last flight review: February 1, 2004
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 11,703 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 1, 2004; 50 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,440 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ACK Nantucket MA at 8:38 pm
- Destination: DXR Danbury CT
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,800 ft
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 pm from HVN, 13 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.
Other NTSB records under N233PA the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.