What happened
On November 19, 2012, a Piper PA-28-180, registration N8826J, crashed into trees and terrain near Canton, Connecticut, while approaching Simsbury Airport (4B9). The flight originated from Heritage Field Airport (PTW) in Pennsylvania, following several fuel stops during a cross-country trip that began in Florida.
At approximately 18:10 EST, the pilot contacted air traffic control (ATC) to report being at 2,500 feet mean sea level (msl) and inbound to the destination. After receiving instructions to maintain visual flight rules (VFR) at or below 3,000 feet, the aircraft began a descent. Radar data indicated that the airplane's descent rate increased to approximately 1,000 feet per minute, and its airspeed decreased to about 108 knots. At 18:24, radar contact was lost at an altitude of 900 feet msl, roughly 70 feet above ground level, near Onion Mountain.
The pilot and passenger sustained 2 fatal injuries.
The investigation
Investigators examined the wreckage at the accident site, located on a heavily wooded ridgeline at an elevation of 830 feet msl. The impact path measured approximately 75 feet in length. Examination of the aircraft's components, including the engine, propeller, and control cables, revealed no evidence of mechanical failure or malfunction prior to the accident.
Engine analysis showed that the engine was producing compression and suction in all four cylinders. While the propeller blades exhibited impact damage, the carburetor and fuel systems showed no signs of debris or water contamination. The pilot's logbook indicated 962 total flight hours, with 786 hours in this specific make and model, but only 128 total hours of night experience. Notably, the pilot had recorded only about one hour of night flight in N8826J within the preceding year.
Findings
An aerial search by a Connecticut State Police helicopter noted that the area surrounding the crash site was extremely dark. The only significant ground lighting near the flight path was a large, illuminated parking lot located approximately one mile east of the accident site. According to the Aeronautical Information Manual, lights along a straight path, such as those in a parking lot, can be mistaken for runway or approach lights during night operations.