Hartford, CT. – June 3, 1946

March 14, 2026

Hartford, Connecticut – June 3, 1946

     On the night of June 3, 1946, two trainer aircraft with student pilots and instructors aboard, were attempting to land at Brainard Airport at the same time and collided with each other. One plane fell in the parking lot of the Connecticut National Guard hangar damaging three cars parked there.  Both occupants of that aircraft were seriously injured.  The other plane landed safely.   

     Source:

     Providence Journal, “Training Planes Crash In Midair”, June 4, 1946, pg. 15.  

 

Filed Under: Connecticut – Civil Tagged With: , ,

Brainard Airport, CT. – August 29, 1928

November 16, 2022

Brainard Airport, Connecticut – August 29, 1928 

     On the morning of August 29, 1928, pilot Frederick J. Boots, (29) took off from Brainard Airport in a Monocoupe airplane.  Once airborne he circled the field and appeared to be attempting to land when the plane suddenly fell from an altitude of about 100 feet and crashed nose first into the ground at the rear of the municipal hangar.  Boots was taken to a nearby hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. 

     State aeronautical inspectors who investigated the accident concluded that due to this accident, and another which had occurred in Rhode Island a short time earlier, that Monocoupe airplanes “constitute a menace to the safety and aviation in this state” and therefor banned their use for the time being in Connecticut.   

     Mr. Boots had formerly been the chief pilot for Massachusetts Airways Inc. of Springfield, Mass., and had recently come to work for L & H Aircraft Company at Brainard Field. 

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/108732443/fred-julian-boots

     Source:

     The New Britain Herald, “Hartford Aviator Suffers Fatal Injuries When Plane Crashes At Brainard Field”, August 29, 1928, pg. 1  

 

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Brainard Airport, CT. – September, 1928

November 16, 2022

Brainard Airport, Connecticut – September, 1928

     In early September of 1928, (exact date unknown), a 21-year-old mechanic for Interstate Airways at Brainard Airport was working on a plane, which he started by himself with the throttle set on “open”.  Once started, the unmanned aircraft pulled away from him and it was reported that “it was only prevented from taking off without a pilot by striking a fence.” 

     The accident was investigated by Sergeant George Pranaitis, state aviation inspector, who found negligence with the mechanic, who was fined $25 and costs in court for “starting an airplane with an open throttle”. 

     It was stated that this was believed to be the first case of its kind.

     The type of aircraft was not stated.  

     Source: New Britain Herald, “Starts Plane With Open Throttle; Fined”, September 11, 1928, page 7. 

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Brainard Airport – November 28, 1978

September 28, 2018

Brainard Airport – November 28, 1978

     On November 28, 1978, a twin-engine Aerostar, (#N8999A), with three people aboard, took off from Runway 2 at Brainard Airport in Hartford, Connecticut.  Moments later, the aircraft suddenly lost all power, and fell to the ground and exploded about 300 feet off the end of the runway.   There were no survivors.

     Moments before the crash a witness observed “gas or smoke” coming from the left engine.

     The aircraft was bound for Newburgh, New York.

     Sources:

     Providence Evening Bulletin, “Brainard Conn., Airport Plane Crash Fatal To Three”, November 29, 1978, page A-1

     Aviation Safety Network, Wikibase #3158

 

Filed Under: Connecticut – Civil Tagged With: , , , , ,

Brainard Field, CT. – January 31, 1970

July 4, 2017

Brainard Field, Hartford, Connecticut – January 31, 1970

     On January 31, 1970, two single-engine private aircraft collided in mid-air over Brainard Air Field in Hartford.  Each plane, one a Piper Cherokee, the other a Piper Arrow, carried two people; all four were killed in the accident.  

     The Cherokee, containing a pilot-instructor and his student, fell into the Connecticut River, while the Arrow, containing two men from Ridgefield, Ct., crashed into a wooded section of the neighboring town of East Hartford.  It was not stated who was piloting either aircraft.

     According to witness reports, one aircraft was approaching from the south while the other from the west, each at an altitude of about 2,000 feet.  Then both went into a banking turn at the same time and collided at a 45 degree angle directly over the field.  It was not specified which plane struck the other.    

     Source:

     Providence Journal, “Four Die In Collision Of Two Light Planes”, February 1, 1970. (With photo)

Filed Under: Connecticut – Civil Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,
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