Piper PA-28-181 accident near Fairfield, Connecticut, February 1, 1990
On February 1, 1990 at about 7:02 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-181, registered N83253, was destroyed in an accident near Fairfield, Connecticut. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE INTOXICATED PILOT'S FAILURE TO ATTAIN/MAINTAIN A SAFE ALTITUDE TO PROVIDE CLEARANCE FROM THE TREE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 1, 1990 · about 7:02 pm local time
- Place
- Fairfield, Connecticut
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-181 · all PA-28-181s on the register
- Registration
- N83253 · no longer on the register · serial 28-8190287
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
PRIOR TO DEPARTING BRADLEY, N83253 WAS CLEARED BY BRADLEY GROUND CONTROL TO TAXI TO RUNWAY 24 FOR AN INTERSECTION DEPARTURE. THE PILOT STARTED TO TAXI TO RUNWAY 06 WHEN GROUND CONTROL ADVISED THAT HE WAS TO TAXI TO RUNWAY 24. BRADLEY TOWER CLEARED N83253 TO TAKEOFF AND REQUESTED THE DIRECTION OF FLIGHT. THE PILOT RESPONDED, 'STRAIGHT OUT'. AFTER DEPARTURE N83253 WAS OBSERVED MAKING A RIGHT TURN TO ABOUT 305 DEGREES. AFTER FLYING ABOUT EIGHT MILES, THE AIRPLANE CRASHED INTO A WOODED RESIDENTIAL AREA WHICH WAS LOCATED ABOUT 2500 FEET FROM THE PILOT'S HOME. THE PILOT'S BLOOD ETHYNOL LEVEL WAS 220 MG/DL.
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
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, October 27, 1989
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4M (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: BDR Bridgeport CT at 6:56 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 10,000 ft; scat at 4,100 ft
- Temperature: 46°F (8°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:50 pm from BDR, 8 miles away
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.
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.