New Haven Airport – July 3, 1959

New Haven, Connecticut – July 3, 1959  

       On the night of July 2, 1959, a small Bonanza airplane with four people aboard left Washington D. C. bound for Groton, Connecticut.  Shortly before 1 a.m. on the morning of July 3rd, as the plane approached New Haven, Connecticut, the pilot realized they were running low on fuel.  Then he spotted the airport beacon for the New Haven Airport and set a course for it, as he approached he realized that airport was in darkness.  The pilot tried to radio the airport, but discovered that the radio was not working.  He then  began dropping flares in order to get the attention of the airport supervisor so as to have the runways lights turned on, but was unsuccessful in attracting his attention.  Fortunately, a woman saw the flares and surmised what was happening, and called police, who in turn phoned the night supervisor, and the plane landed safely at 1:15 A.M.   

     Source:

     The Evening Star, (Washington D.C.), “D. C. Flyers Safe In Freak Landing”, July 4, 1959.      

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