Off Groton, CT. – July 31, 1979

April 25, 2019

Off Groton, Connecticut – July 31, 1979

     On Sunday, July, 29, 1979, a California man and his two teenaged sons, 13, and 16, left California on a cross-country vacation flight in a Piper PA-30 Twin-Comanche, (N8602Y).  Their ultimate destination was Maine, with planned stops along the way.  On the morning of July 31, the aircraft attempted to land at Groton-New London Airport in heavy fog conditions.  The pilot aborted the first attempt, and turned to go around again.  As the aircraft was making its second approach from over the water towards Runway 5, it crashed and sank about 150 yards southeast of Pine Island, about 1/4 mile from the airport.  There were no survivors. 

     Sources:

     The Day, (New London), “Doctor, Two Sons Are Crash Victims”, August 1, 1979, page 1.    

     The Day, (New London), “Guidance System: Factor In Crash?”, August 1, 1979, page 1. (With map of crash site.) 

      The Day, (New London), “Crash Still Puzzles Probers”, August 3, 1979, page 1.  (With photo of aircraft.)

     Norwich Bulletin, “Shroud Of Bay Fog Covers Recovery Site”, August 3, 1979, page 19

     Norwich Bulletin, “Hulk Of Ill-Fated Aircraft Retrieved”, August 3, 1979, page 19.

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

Groton, CT. – February 24, 1984

November 27, 2018

Groton, Connecticut – February 24, 1984

     At about 5:00 p.m. on the evening of February 24, 1984, a Hercules cargo plane was taxiing at Groton-New London Airport when its wingtip struck the nose of a moored and unoccupied DC-3 passenger liner slicing through the nose of the DC-3.  There were no injuries in the incident.

     The cargo plane was operated by a California company, and the DC-3, built in 1950, had been purchased three years earlier by a local airline, but had never been put in service.  

     Source:

     The Day, (New London, CT.), “Plane Is Hit Near Taxiway”, February 25, 1984, page 1.  

Filed Under: Connecticut – Civil Tagged With: , ,

Groton, CT. – January 24, 1984

November 27, 2018

Groton, Connecticut – January 24, 1984

     On the night of January 24, 1984, a Cessna 210, (N900FE), left Waukegan, Ill. with three people aboard bound for Groton, Connecticut.  The aircraft arrived at Groton-New London Airport around 10:40 p.m. and found the airport surrounded by heavy fog.  As it came in to land it struck some trees and then crashed in an area known as Burrows Field off Poquonnock Road, about one mile from the airport. The aircraft was completely demolished and there were no survivors.

     Sources:

     Norwich Bulletin, “3 Die In Groton Plane Crash”, January 25, 1984, page 1, with photograph.   

     The Sun, (Westerly, R.I.), “Plane Crash Near Groton Airport Kills 3”, January 25, 1984, page 1 with photograph.

Filed Under: Connecticut – Civil Tagged With: , ,

Groton, CT. – February 1, 1982

November 13, 2018

Groton, Connecticut – February 1, 1982

     On February 1, 1982, Pilgrim Airlines Flight 466 left New York’s LaGuardia Airport with a crew of two, and five passengers aboard.  The aircraft was a twin-engine Beechcraft 99.

     The weather was raining and cloudy with a low ceiling, and strong gusty winds. 

     When the flight reached Groton-New London Airport at about 12:45 p.m. it was cleared to land.  As the aircraft made its approach to Runway 5 from the southwest, a strong gust of wind forced it to crash in a marshy area about 100 feet before the end of the runway.  The aircraft fuselage remained largely intact and there was no fire.  Thick ground fog, along with mucky-icy conditions of the marshland, made it difficult for rescuers to locate and reach the aircraft.  When they arrived at the scene, they found seven people hurt, three seriously.  All were transported to medical facilities for treatment.

     As a point of fact, another Pilgrim Airlines flight was awaiting landing instructions at the time of the accident, and was diverted to Bradley International Airport in Windsor Locks.   

     Sources:

     The Day, (New London, CT.), “7 Hurt, 3 Seriously In Plane Crash”, February 1, 1982, page 1. (With photo)

     The Day, “Copilot Tried To Land In Strong Wind”, February 2, 1982, page 1

     The Day, “Passenger describes Ordeal”, February 2, 1982, page 1

     Providence Evening Bulletin, “Commuter Plane Crashes In Groton; 7 Hurt”, February 1, 1982, page A-13

     Westerly Sun, (RI), “Investigators Seek Cause Of Groton Plane Crash”, February 2, 1982, page 13.

 

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

Groton, CT- March 14, 1984

August 12, 2015

Groton, Connecticut – March 14, 1984

Groton – New London Airport

     At about 4:40 a.m. on the morning of March, 14, 1984, a single-engine Piper PA-28 with a lone pilot aboard was attempting to land at Groton-New London Airport in rain and fog conditions when it crashed in a marshy area about 700 feet before Runway 5.  When rescue workers reached the aircraft they found the pilot to be deceased.

     Sources:

     New York Times, “Physicist, 67, Dies In Crash Of His Plane In Connecticut”, March 15, 1984

     The Day, “Plane Crash Investigators Still Uncertain About Cause”, March 15, 1984, Pg. 6  

     The Sun, (Westerly, R.I.), “Man Dies In Groton Plane Crash”, March 14, 1984 with photograph of crash site.

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