Piper PA-32R-300 accident near Windham, Connecticut, October 30, 1987
On October 30, 1987 at about 12:15 pm local time, a Piper PA-32R-300, registered N38334, was substantially damaged in an accident near Windham, Connecticut (Windham airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. 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 November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 30, 1987 · about 12:15 pm local time · cases in 1987
- Place
- Windham, Connecticut · Windham · cases near this airport
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32R-300 · all PA-32R-300s on the register
- Registration
- N38334 · registry record · serial 32R-7780415
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE FLIGHT DEPARTED GROTON, CONNECTICUT ENROUTE TO WILLIMANTIC, CONNECTICUT IN UNLIMITED VISIBILITY. HOWEVER AT WINDHAM AIRPORT, THE RUNWAY WAS PARTIALLY OBSCURED BY PATCHY FOG ACCORDING TO THE PILOT. THE PILOT LANDED LONG DUE TO CARRYING ADDITIONAL SPEED IN CASE OF A GO AROUND. THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUE ROLLING OFF THE RWY, AND DOWN AN EMBANKMENT BEFORE COMING TO REST.
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; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 14,042 hours in all; 1,038 in this make and model; 28 in the last 90 days; 9,760 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Unknown (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,602 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 24, 1987; 121 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-K1G5D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GON Groton CT at 12:00 pm
- Destination: 5BO Willimantic CT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 4,360 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Sky: not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N38334 on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Piper PA-32 Cherokee Six, Lance and Saratoga 3,916 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Piper 44,838 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-K1G5D 52 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Groton-New London Airport · departed from
- Accidents and incidents in Connecticut 522 since 1982 · 68 in the last ten years
- Connecticut 1,610 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/NYC88LA027.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.