Piper PA-24-180 accident near Somers, Connecticut, March 31, 1986
On March 31, 1986 at about 1:30 am local time, a Piper PA-24-180, registered N6599P, was destroyed in an accident near Somers, Connecticut (Ellington airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 5 people were 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
- March 31, 1986 · about 1:30 am local time
- Place
- Somers, Connecticut · Ellington
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 5 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-24-180 · all PA-24-180s on the register
- Registration
- N6599P · no longer on the register · serial 24-1721
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT, ON A NIGHT FLT, WAS SEEN FLYING ABOUT 1 MI WEST OF ELLINGTON ARPT. A WITNESS SAW THE ACFT FLYING NORTH AND JUST ABOVE THE 800 FT HIGH TERRAIN. THE ACFT WAS IN A GRADUAL DESCENT AND IT APPEARED THAT IT WOULD NOT CLEAR TERRAIN AHEAD. AFTERWARDS THE WITNESS SAW A GLOW EMITTING AND SMOKE RISING FROM THE ACCIDENT SITE. THE ACFT CAME TO REST AT AN ELEVATION OF 800 FT AND 2.2 MILES NORTHEAST OF THE ARPT. THE WRECKAGE WAS SCATTERED A DISTANCE OF ABOUT 300 FT ANDORIENTED ON A 335 DEGS MAG HDG. THE ARPT ELEV IS 235 FT MSL AND THE TRAFFIC PATTERN IS 1250 FT MSL. EXAMINATION OF THE ACFT DID NOT DISCLOSE EVIDENCE OF MALFUNCTION. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF PILOT INCAPACITATION OR IMPAIRMENT.
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: 200 hours in all; 45 in this make and model; 170 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A10 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: HFD Hartford CT
- Destination: 7B9 Ellington CT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, bright
- Wind: from 190° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:30 am from HFD, 14 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 4 |
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.