Grumman TBM-3E accident near Brooklyn, Connecticut, August 4, 1986
On August 4, 1986 at about 2:10 pm local time, a Grumman TBM-3E, registered N6581D, was destroyed in an accident near Brooklyn, Connecticut. It was a ferry flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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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 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 4, 1986 · about 2:10 pm local time
- Place
- Brooklyn, Connecticut
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman TBM-3E · all TBM-3Es on the register
- Registration
- N6581D · no longer on the register · serial 53760
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT WAS BEING FLOWN TO THE OWNER'S RESIDENCE WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF BLACK AND WHITE SMOKE WAS OBSERVED EMITTING FROM THE ENG COWLING AND THE ENG WAS HEARD SPUTTERING. ACCORDING TO WITNESSES, THE ACFT LEVELED OFF AT AN ALT OF APRX 250-400 FT AGL AND BEGAN A LEFT TURN BACK TOWARD THE ARPT. A WITNESS STATED THE ACFT THEN ROLLED INVERTED AND DESCENDED TO IMPACT WITH THE TERRAIN. POST ACCIDENT INSPECTION OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED THE #8 AND #10 PISTON HEADS EACH HAD A HOLE BURNED THROUGH THEM.PISTON #1, #13, #14, #2, AND #3 ALSO SHOWED SIGNS OF HEAT DAMAGE. THE LAST ANNUAL INSPECTION WAS PERFORMED ON SEPTEMBER 7, 1983. THE ACFT HAD BEEN ISSUED A FERRY PERMIT FOR THIS FLT.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: glider; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: glider; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 9,948 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 7, 1983
- Maximum gross weight: 18,000 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Wright R2600-20 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Professional Aircraft Sales CO
The flight
- Departed from: 5B3 Danielson CT
- Destination: CTO Calverton NY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:00 pm from PVD, 22 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number NYC86FA196.