Beech BE-55E accident near Groton, Connecticut, November 5, 1984
On November 5, 1984 at about 1:50 pm local time, a Beech BE-55E, registered N62561, was substantially damaged in an accident near Groton, Connecticut (Groton airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. 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
- November 5, 1984 · about 1:50 pm local time
- Place
- Groton, Connecticut · Groton
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Beech BE-55E
- Registration
- N62561 · no longer on the register · serial TE1198
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AS THE ACFT BROKE OUT OF THE 300 OVERCAST LAYER THE PLT SAW BIRDS FLYING OFF OF THE RWY THRESHOLD. DUE TO IFR CONDITIONS AND LOW ALTITUDE THE PLT ELECTED NOT TO GO AROUND. THE TOWER ADVISED THE PLT OF THE BIRDS ON 2 MILE FINAL ON THE ILS APCH.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,033 hours in all; 451 in this make and model; 110 in the last 90 days; 3,033 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 120 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 5,300 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-6B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FRG Farmingdale NY at 1:00 pm
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 5, 5,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 15 knots, gusting 22
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 300 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.