Piper PA-28R-201 accident near Burlington, Connecticut, April 14, 1984
On April 14, 1984 at about 5:40 pm local time, a Piper PA-28R-201, registered N9487C, was destroyed in an accident near Burlington, Connecticut. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. 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
- April 14, 1984 · about 5:40 pm local time
- Place
- Burlington, Connecticut
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28R-201 · all PA-28R-201s on the register
- Registration
- N9487C · no longer on the register · serial 28R7837201
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT CRASHED IN A STEEP RIGHT DESCENDING TURN SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF. THE STUDENT PLT FLYING THE ACFT HAD BEEN SCHEDULED TO FLY THAT DAY BUT THE INSTRUCTOR CANCELED THE FLT ON ACCOUNT OF WEATHER. THE ACFT WAS SEEN TAXIING OUT ABOUT1230. AFTER TAKEOFF THE ACFT DISAPPEARED INTO THE OVERCAST IN A RIGHT TURN. SHORTLY AFTER, THE ACFT DESCENDED FROM THE OVERCAST STILL TURNING RIGHT UNTIL GROUND CONTACT.
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: 109 hours in all; 46 in this make and model; 57 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 37 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 9, 1984; 15 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,750 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-C1C6 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: Plainville CT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 900 ft; not recorded at 900 ft
- Temperature: 43°F (6°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:50 pm from BDL, 19 miles away
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.