Piper PA-28-161 accident near Meriden, Connecticut, December 3, 1995
On December 3, 1995 at about 6:45 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-161, registered N2226Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Meriden, Connecticut (Meriden airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's improper flare and improper recovery from a bounced landing. The unfavorable wind condition was a related factor.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 3, 1995 · about 6:45 pm local time
- Place
- Meriden, Connecticut · Meriden
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-161 · all PA-28-161s on the register
- Registration
- N2226Z · registry record · serial 28-7916390
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT PERFORMED A LANDING ON RUNWAY 18 WITH A RIGHT QUARTERING CROSSWIND THAT WAS VARIABLE, WITH A VELOCITY OF 20 KNOTS AND GUSTS TO 25 KNOTS. AFTER TOUCHDOWN, THE AIRPLANE BOUNCED AND BECAME AIRBORNE. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE AIRPLANE STARTED TO ROLL RIGHT. THE PILOT SAID THAT HE APPLIED LEFT AILERON AND RUDDER TO CORRECT THE ROLL. HOWEVER, THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN IN A NOSE DOWN, RIGHT WING DOWN ATTITUDE, AND DEPARTED THE RUNWAY TO THE RIGHT. THE AIRPLANE THEN WENT THROUGH SMALL TREES AND BUSHES BEFORE COMING TO REST.
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
- Flight time: 121 hours in all; 111 in this make and model; 13 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 64 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,282 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 20, 1995; 55 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,325 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D3G (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Meridan Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: BDL Windsor Locks CT at 6:25 pm
- Destination: MMK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 3,100 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 20 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number NYC96LA033.