Piper PA-28R-200 accident near Simsbury, Connecticut, December 2, 1989
On December 2, 1989 at about 6:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-28R-200, registered N2823T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Simsbury, Connecticut (Simsbury airport). It was an instructional 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 PILOT'S MISJUDGEMENT OF AIRSPEED AND DISTANCE DURING LANDING RESULTING IN AN OVERSHOOT AND SWERVE OFF THE RUNWAY. THE DUSK LIGHT CONDITIONS, SNOW, AND FROZEN TERRAIN WERE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS TO THE ACCIDENT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 2, 1989 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Simsbury, Connecticut · Simsbury
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28R-200 · all PA-28R-200s on the register
- Registration
- N2823T · registry record · serial 28R-7235140
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE RETURNING TO BURLINGTON, CT FROM A ROUND-ROBIN CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT, THEN FLIGHT ENCOUNTERED SNOW AND LOWERING CEILINGS. DURING THE APPROACH, THE PILOT DIVERTED TO SIMSBURY, CT. THE AIRPLANE WAS OBSERVED TO TOUCH DOWN ABOUT 2/3 DOWN THE RUNWAY. SKID MARKS WERE LATER OBSERVED ON THE RUNWAY WHICH CONTINUED OFF THE RIGHT SIDE ONTO FROZEN SNOW AND TERRAIN.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 215 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-C1C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Johnnycake Service,Inc.
The flight
- Departed from: 22B Burlington CT
- Destination: 22B Burlington CT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 21, 2,205 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Sky: not recorded; 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.
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.