Beech A24 accident near Simsbury, Connecticut, August 30, 1992
On August 30, 1992 at about 8:56 pm local time, a Beech A24, registered N866Y, was substantially damaged in an accident near Simsbury, Connecticut. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A POWER LOSS DUE TO A FUEL LINE BLOCKED WITH DIRT AND SLUDGE, WHILE OPERATING OVER UNSUITABLE TERRAIN. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE FAILURE OF THE OWNER/PILOT TO DETECT THE DIRT AND SLUDGE IN THE FUEL SYSTEM PRIOR TO TAKEOFF.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 30, 1992 · about 8:56 pm local time
- Place
- Simsbury, Connecticut
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech A24 · all A24s on the register
- Registration
- N866Y · no longer on the register · serial MA368
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOTS HAD MADE MULTIPLE TAKEOFFS AND LANDINGS WHEN THEY EXPERIENCED A POWER LOSS AFTER TAKEOFF. AN OFF AIRPORT LANDING IN TREES WAS MADE STRAIGHT AHEAD. POST ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION FOUND DIRT AND SLUDGE IN THE MAIN FUEL LINE. WHEN THE DIRT AND SLUDGE WAS REMOVED THE ENGINE PERFORMED SATISFACTORILY. THE OWNER/PILOT SAID HE DRAINED THE SUMPS PRIOR TO 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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 326 hours in all; 4 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 145 as pilot in command; 17 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 2, 1991; 5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 16 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:50 pm from BDL, 5 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.