Lear crashes at KGON [New London/Groton CT] Friday

A Lear 35 flipped over after striking approach lights and ended up by
Long Island sound yesterday after attempting to land on Rwy 5.
The two pilots were killed, several passengers were able to escape and
will be ok. The aircraft was being chartered by charter firm and the
airframe was owned by one of Pat Robertson's companies.

According to the official weather observations before and after the
accident, there were few clouds at 100 feet with a 5000 foot broken
layer and 3 miles visibility (mist). Rescuers reported heavy fog and
could not see the plane when they got into lobster boats to find
survivors until the fog lifted slightly.

A case where the instantaneous very local weather made it very difficult
to see very quickly as they descended below 100 feet? Strictly by the
numbers the weather was marginally VMC at the weather observation point,
at least just before and after the accident. But the view from the
cockpit just before the runway must have been remarkedly different. bz

KGON 022056Z 17005KT 3SM -RA BR FEW001 BKN050 18/17 A2983 RMK AO2 RAB48
SLP101 P0000 60000 T01830172 56009
KGON 021956Z 19006KT 3SM BR FEW001 BKN050 19/17 A2983 RMK AO2 SLP102
T01940167

Runway 5 ILS approach:
http://204.108.4.16/d-tpp/0605/05049IL5.PDF

Flight tracking information:
http://flightaware.com/live/flight/N182K

Two years ago another Lear stalled & crashed at Groton during a
go-around. Both pilots killed, one was ejected through the windshield.
The local news here (6/2/06) showed the Lear upside down in 4 ft of
water. I'm surprised the pax weren't lost with the crew.

Jim wrote:
A Lear 35 flipped over after striking approach lights and ended up by
Long Island sound yesterday after attempting to land on Rwy 5.
The two pilots were killed, several passengers were able to escape and
will be ok. The aircraft was being chartered by charter firm and the
airframe was owned by one of Pat Robertson's companies.

According to the official weather observations before and after the
accident, there were few clouds at 100 feet with a 5000 foot broken
layer and 3 miles visibility (mist). Rescuers reported heavy fog and
could not see the plane when they got into lobster boats to find
survivors until the fog lifted slightly.

A case where the instantaneous very local weather made it very difficult
to see very quickly as they descended below 100 feet? Strictly by the
numbers the weather was marginally VMC at the weather observation point,
at least just before and after the accident. But the view from the
cockpit just before the runway must have been remarkedly different. bz

KGON 022056Z 17005KT 3SM -RA BR FEW001 BKN050 18/17 A2983 RMK AO2 RAB48
SLP101 P0000 60000 T01830172 56009
KGON 021956Z 19006KT 3SM BR FEW001 BKN050 19/17 A2983 RMK AO2 SLP102
T01940167

Runway 5 ILS approach:
http://204.108.4.16/d-tpp/0605/05049IL5.PDF

Flight tracking information:
http://flightaware.com/live/flight/N182K

WFSB reported that a group of teenage kids who were fishing in the water
rescued the passengers.
..
"Kingfish" wrote in message
oups.com...
Two years ago another Lear stalled & crashed at Groton during a
go-around. Both pilots killed, one was ejected through the windshield.
The local news here (6/2/06) showed the Lear upside down in 4 ft of
water. I'm surprised the pax weren't lost with the crew.

Jim wrote:
A Lear 35 flipped over after striking approach lights and ended up by
Long Island sound yesterday after attempting to land on Rwy 5.
The two pilots were killed, several passengers were able to escape and
will be ok. The aircraft was being chartered by charter firm and the
airframe was owned by one of Pat Robertson's companies.

According to the official weather observations before and after the
accident, there were few clouds at 100 feet with a 5000 foot broken
layer and 3 miles visibility (mist). Rescuers reported heavy fog and
could not see the plane when they got into lobster boats to find
survivors until the fog lifted slightly.

A case where the instantaneous very local weather made it very difficult
to see very quickly as they descended below 100 feet? Strictly by the
numbers the weather was marginally VMC at the weather observation point,
at least just before and after the accident. But the view from the
cockpit just before the runway must have been remarkedly different. bz

KGON 022056Z 17005KT 3SM -RA BR FEW001 BKN050 18/17 A2983 RMK AO2 RAB48
SLP101 P0000 60000 T01830172 56009
KGON 021956Z 19006KT 3SM BR FEW001 BKN050 19/17 A2983 RMK AO2 SLP102
T01940167

Runway 5 ILS approach:
http://204.108.4.16/d-tpp/0605/05049IL5.PDF

Flight tracking information:
http://flightaware.com/live/flight/N182K