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Casualties unknown

Aircraft N36069 Crashes Near Meriden Airport During Thunderstorm

Wallingford, CT, US

On May 31, 1991, a Piper PA-32RT-300 (registration N36069) operated by Louis R. D'agostino was involved in an aviation accident near Wallingford, CT. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: THE PILOT ATTEMPTING A VFR FLIGHT IN ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS, AT AN ALTITUDE THAT WAS INSUFFICIENT TO CLEAR TREES ALONG HIS ROUTE OF FLIGHT. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 2026-07-04Data APIEditorial standards

Aircraft N36069 crashed in a wooded area near Meriden, CT, after being seen flying low with a loud engine during heavy rain and low visibility. The non-instrument rated pilot had not received a weather briefing despite forecast thunderstorms.

Incident Overview

Aircraft N36069 was en route to Meriden, Connecticut, when it crashed in a wooded area approximately five miles from the airport. Witnesses reported seeing and hearing the aircraft flying very low over their homes just before the crash. The engine was described as sounding 'very loud.'

Weather Conditions

Thunderstorms and rain showers were forecast for the entire area at the time. Multiple witnesses stated that it was raining very hard during the accident. One witness reported visibility was only about 150 feet.

Pilot Information

The pilot was not instrument rated and did not receive a weather briefing prior to the flight.

Sequence of Events

The aircraft was observed flying at a low altitude over residential areas before entering the wooded crash site. No further details about the flight path or timeline were provided in the source material.

Aftermath

The crash occurred in a wooded area. The source did not specify injuries, fatalities, or the extent of damage to the aircraft. No information about emergency response or recovery operations was included.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 31 May 1991 Piper PA-32RT-300 accident near Wallingford, CT?

Aircraft N36069 crashed in a wooded area near Meriden, CT, after being seen flying low with a loud engine during heavy rain and low visibility. The non-instrument rated pilot had not received a weather briefing despite forecast thunderstorms.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 31 May 1991 involved a Piper PA-32RT-300, registration N36069, operated by Louis R. D'agostino, at Wallingford, CT.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

THE PILOT ATTEMPTING A VFR FLIGHT IN ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS, AT AN ALTITUDE THAT WAS INSUFFICIENT TO CLEAR TREES ALONG HIS ROUTE OF FLIGHT. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE PILOT'S LACK OF INSTRUMENT RATING, AND HIS OVERCONFIDENCE TO FLY IN ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS.

More accident analyses

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001212X17095. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.