Piper PA-28-180 accident near Groton, Connecticut, July 27, 1987
On July 27, 1987 at about 3:37 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-180, registered N9558J, was substantially damaged in an accident near Groton, Connecticut (Groton/New London airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed; 1 other was unhurt. 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
- July 27, 1987 · about 3:37 pm local time
- Place
- Groton, Connecticut · Groton/New London
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-180 · all PA-28-180s on the register
- Registration
- N9558J · no longer on the register · serial 28-3689
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
SHORTLY AFTER THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED THE AIRPORT, AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL PERSONNEL RECEIVED A DISTRESS CALL FROM THE NON-PILOT RATED PASSENGER. SHE STATED THAT THE PILOT (HER HUSBAND) WAS INCAPACITATED BY AN APPARENT HEART ATTACK AND SHE WAS NOT QUALIFIED TO FLY THE AIRCRAFT. WITH ASSISTANCE FROM AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL, THE PASSENGER BROUGHT THE AIRCRAFT BACK TO THE AIRPORT AND LANDED. AS THE AIRCRAFT ROLLED OUT AFTER LANDING, IT DRIFTED OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY AND COLLIDED WITH TWO PARKED AIRCRAFT.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,643 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 29, 1986; 127 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A3A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GON at 2:21 pm
- Destination: FRG Farmingdale NY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 5, 5,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:20 pm from GON
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.