Incident Overview
An aircraft operating as N100CT descended into the water approximately 6.5 miles southwest of Bridgeport, Connecticut. The pilot had been conducting an ILS approach to runway 06 and was in communication with New York TRACON arrival radar. During the initial radio call, the pilot requested a clearance direct to Bridgeport, which was granted following a brief exchange. No mention of problems or low fuel state was made during the communications.
Flight Details
Approximately 15 minutes after the initial call, the controller was issuing final approach instructions to N100CT. The aircraft had been given turns and airspeed changes to space it behind landing traffic. During this transmission, radar and radio contact were lost. Post-accident fuel calculations, based on the fuel onboard versus flight time and normal consumption, indicated approximately 6 gallons of fuel remained. The aircraft's normal unusable fuel volume is 13 gallons, which increases during maneuvering.
Recovery and Investigation
Coast Guard personnel recovered identifiable parts of the aircraft and some paper documents. The pilot's body was not recovered.
Probable Cause
The official investigation identified the following findings: 1. Weather condition - low ceiling 2. Preflight planning/preparation - inadequate - pilot in command 3. Terrain condition - water, rough 4. Fuel supply - inadequate - pilot in command 5. Emergency procedure - not performed - pilot in command 6. Radio communications - inadequate - pilot in command