Piper PA-28-181 accident near East Haddam, Connecticut, June 9, 1991
On June 9, 1991 at about 11:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-181, registered N2876Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near East Haddam, Connecticut. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE NON-MECHANICAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO USE THE AUXILIARY FUEL BOOST PUMP DURING TAKEOFF.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 9, 1991 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- East Haddam, Connecticut
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-181 · all PA-28-181s on the register
- Registration
- N2876Z · no longer on the register · serial 28-790516
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AS N2867Z LIFTED OFF DURING TAKEOFF, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO SPUTTER. WITNESSES HEARD THE ENGINE RUNNING INTERMITTENTLY AND ROUGHLY. IT DISAPPEARED BEHIND TREES AND WAS FOUND IN 10 FEET OF WATER IN A POND OFF THE END OF THE RUNWAY. THE AIRPLANE DOOR WAS DAMAGED DURING COLLISION WITH THE WATER, PREVENTING THE OCCUPANTS FROM ESCAPING. THE AIRPLANE WAS RECOVERED, AND AFTER DRYING OUT, THE ENGINE WAS STARTED AND RAN NORMALLY. THE FUEL SYSTEM ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP WAS FOUND IN THE OFF POSITION. THE PILOT'S OPERATING HANDBOOK REQUIRES THAT THE ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP BE ON DURING TAKEOFF.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,007 hours in all; 900 in this make and model; 45 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 950 as pilot in command
- 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: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4M (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: CDW Caldwell NJ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Observation at 11:50 pm from HNV, 22 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.