Grumman AA-1C accident near West Haven, Connecticut, July 2, 1982
On July 2, 1982 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Grumman AA-1C, registered N39050, was substantially damaged in an accident near West Haven, Connecticut. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 2, 1982 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- West Haven, Connecticut
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman AA-1C
- Registration
- N39050 · no longer on the register · serial AA1C-0203
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT DEPARTED BRIDGEPORT, CT AT 1200 HOURS AND ARRIVED AT NANTUCKET, MA AT 1345 HOURS. WHILE EN ROUTE, HE MADE A TOUCH-AND-GO AT FISHERS ISLAND AND PRACTICED STALL MANEUVERS. HE DEPARTED NANTUCKET AT ABOUT 1430 HOURS WITHOUT REFUELING. SUBSEQUENTLY, HE RAN LOW ON FUEL AND DIVERTED TO NEW HAVEN, CT. HOWEVER, FUEL EXHAUSTION OCCURRED AND HE MADE A FORCED LANDING ON A SAND BAR. DURING THE LANDING, THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK ROCKS AND WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED.
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: student
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 58 hours in all; 1 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 29 as pilot in command; 1 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,560 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Nantucket MA at 2:30 pm
- Destination: Bridgeport CT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 20 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.