Amateur-built LONG EZE accident near Waterbury, Connecticut, March 19, 1985
On March 19, 1985 at about 4:00 pm local time, a amateur-built LONG EZE, registered N49EZ, was substantially damaged in an accident near Waterbury, Connecticut (Waterbury/Oxford airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were seriously injured. 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
- March 19, 1985 · about 4:00 pm local time
- Place
- Waterbury, Connecticut · Waterbury/Oxford
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built LONG EZE
- Registration
- N49EZ · registry record · serial 2001
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT CRASHED INTO AN EMBANKMENT SHORT OF RWY 36 AFTER A LOSS OF PWR ON FINAL APPROACH. THE PLT SAID HE WAS OPERATING ON THE RT TANK WHEN THE ENG QUIT. HE IMMEDIATELY AWITCHED TO THE LEFT TANK AND ACTIVATED THE BOOST PUMP. THE PROP HAD STOPPED AND THE ACFT WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH A STARTER. THE PLT LATER SAID HE NOTICED A RISE IN FUEL PRESSURE BUT DUE TO LACK OF ROTATION THE ENG DID NOT START. THE POST ACC EXAM REVEALED 8 GALS OF FUEL IN THE LEFT ENG AND NONE IN THE RIGHT.
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: 95 hours in all; 42 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 4 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 11 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 22, 1985; 11 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,050 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 4B8 Plainville CT
- Destination: OXC Waterbury CT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 5,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 28°F (-2°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:00 pm from BDR
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 3 |
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.