Cessna 120 accident near Simsbury, Connecticut, March 21, 1991
On March 21, 1991 at about 2:05 pm local time, a Cessna 120, registered N4117N, was destroyed in an accident near Simsbury, Connecticut. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S INTENTIONAL FLIGHT INTO TERRAIN. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE PSYCHOLOGICAL CONDITIONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 21, 1991 · about 2:05 pm local time
- Place
- Simsbury, Connecticut
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 120 · all 120s on the register
- Registration
- N4117N · no longer on the register · serial 13575
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE MISSING AIRPLANE WAS FOUND 10 DAYS AFTER IT DEPARTED, CRASHED IN A STATE FOREST. THE PILOT WAS FOUND DEAD LYING NEXT TO THE AIRPLANE. ONE PASSENGER, HIS WIFE, WAS FOUND DEAD IN THE RIGHT FRONT SEAT. ACCORDING TO THE MEDICAL EXAMINER'S AUTOPSY REPORT, THE PILOT'S DEATH WAS 'DUE TO ACUTE ETHANOL INTOXICATION' AND THE 'FINAL MANNER OF DEATH WAS SUICIDE.' THE AUTOPSY REPORT ON THE PASSENGER REVEALED HER DEATH WAS DUE TO 'GUNSHOT WOUNDS OF HEAD' AND THE 'MANNER OF DEATH WAS HOMICIDE.'
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: single-engine land
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 1,450 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-85-12 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: NK09 Burdett NY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; scat at 8,000 ft
- Temperature: 37°F (3°C), dew point 19°F (-7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:00 pm from POU, 60 miles away
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.