Piper PA-28R-200 accident near Glastenbury, Vermont, September 23, 1997
On September 23, 1997 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-28R-200, registered CGHUE, was destroyed in an accident near Glastenbury, Vermont. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's improper decision to disregard the weather briefing and continue into adverse weather which resulted in a loss of control. The weather was a factor.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 23, 1997 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Glastenbury, Vermont
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28R-200 · all PA-28R-200s on the register
- Registration
- CGHUE · no longer on the register · serial 28R-35723
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The noninstrument-rated pilot received a weather briefing and was twice told, 'VFR flight not recommended.' He thanked the briefer, filed a flight plan and departed. Radar data revealed the airplane maintained a direct course towards its destination. A witness on a mountain top said visibility was about 10 feet with fog, and rain and hail had been falling when he heard the airplane impacting trees. He reported the engine was loud and strong. On-site examination revealed the airplane impacted trees, in a descending flight path.
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: 1,953 hours in all; 33 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 1,833 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,519 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, September 15, 1994; 11 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,600 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-C1C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Ottawa Flying Club
The flight
- Departed from: MSS Massena NY at 6:55 pm
- Destination: IJD Willimantic CT
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 25 knots, gusting 30
- Sky: not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.