Casualties unknown

Airplane Crashes During Ferry Flight in Rain and Fog (N1189N)

Washington, CT, US

On September 11, 2001, a Yakovlev YAK-52 (registration N1189N) was involved in an aviation accident near Washington, CT. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control. Factors in the accident were the dark night, reduced visibility, and the pilot's decision to conduct VFR operations at night in adverse weather conditions. 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 2026-06-10Data APIEditorial standards

A pilot ferrying a recently purchased airplane from Washington to Rhode Island crashed in rainy, foggy conditions. The airplane impacted nose-down, and no preimpact failures were found.

Accident Details

The pilot purchased the airplane a few days before the accident in the State of Washington and was ferrying it to Providence, Rhode Island. The airplane departed on the last leg of the cross-country flight under visual flight rules (VFR) and was en route to Providence when the accident occurred. The airplane impacted the ground approximately 40 degrees nose down.

Weather Conditions

A weather observation taken 30 minutes after the accident at an airport about 22 miles south of the accident site recorded wind calm, visibility 3 miles in rain and mist, overcast clouds at 6,500 feet, temperature 72°F, dew point 70°F, and an altimeter setting of 30.07 inHg. A weather radar image captured 23 minutes before the accident showed an area of strong radar returns consistent with heavy precipitation near the accident site. A witness reported that the accident site was rainy, foggy, and "extremely" dark at the time of the accident.

Pilot Information

The pilot had approximately 1,680 hours of total flight experience. The pilot was scheduled to work 16 hours the day after the accident. The day before the accident, the pilot left a voice message stating she was "socked in" by a storm approaching from the west.

Wreckage Examination

Examination of the wreckage revealed no preimpact failures or malfunctions.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20010926X01997. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.