Piper PA-28R-200 accident near Groton, Connecticut, March 14, 1984
On March 14, 1984 at about 8:00 am local time, a Piper PA-28R-200, registered N5022S, was destroyed in an accident near Groton, Connecticut (Croton New London airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
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
- March 14, 1984 · about 8:00 am local time
- Place
- Groton, Connecticut · Croton New London
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28R-200 · all PA-28R-200s on the register
- Registration
- N5022S · registry record · serial 28R 35757
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT RECEIVED 2 WX BRIEFINGS PRIOR TO DEPARTING & BOTH CALLED FOR LOW CEILINGS. DURING ARRIVAL AT THE DESTINATION, THE PLT REQUESTED & WAS CLEARED FOR AN ILS APCH TO RWY 5. WHILE ON THE APCH, THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH A SMALL TREE & CRASHED. THE WRECKAGE CAME TO REST AT ABOUT 690 FT SOUTH OF THE THRESHOLD OF RWY 5 (RIGHT OF THE EXTENDED RWY CENTER- LINE). AN EXAM OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION. THE 0145 EST WX WAS: SKY PARTIALLY OBSCURED, 900 FT OVERCAST, VISIBILITY 1-1/4 MI WITH RAIN & FOG, WIND 160 DEG AT 25 GUSTING 40 KTS. ACCORDING TO THE POLICE, THE WX REMAINED WINDY & RAINY UNTIL 0315 EST.
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; instrument: airplane
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,864 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 17, 1983
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-C1C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: DCA Washington DC at 5:59 am
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 5, 5,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 160° at 25 knots, gusting 40
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 900 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:45 am from GON
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.