​​On April 27, l 994, about 2256 eastern daylight time, Action Air Charters flight 990, a Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain, N990RA, crashed into a blast fence at the departure end of runway 6 after landing at Sikorsky Memorial Airport, Stratford, Connecticut. The flight originated in Atlantic City, New Jersey, and operated on a visual flight rules flight plan. The airplane was operating under Title 14 Code or Federal Regulations Part 135 as a single pilot, on-demand air carrier flight. Following landing touchdown and during rollout, the airplane collided with a blast deflector fence at the departure end of runway 6. The airplane was destroyed by impact forces and a postcrash fire. Eight of the nine occupants sustairicd fatal injuries. One passenger was seriously injured. 

​We determined that the probable causes of this accident were the failure of the captain to use the available ILS glideslope, his failure to execute a go-around when the conditions were not suitable for landing, and his failure to land the airplane on the runway at a point sufficient to allow for a safe stopping distance; the fatalities were caused by the presence of the nonfrangible blast fence and the absence of a safety area at the end of the runway. 

​As a result of it's investigation of this accident, we made the following recommendations:

​to the Federal Aviation Adntinistration: 

• Inspect all Title I 4 Cude of Federal Regulations Part 139 certificated airports for adequate runway safety areas and nonfrangible objects, such as blast fences, and require that substandard runway safety areas be upgraded to Advisory Circular 150/5300-13 minimum standards wherever it is feasible.  (A-94-211) 
• Within 90 days, and in coordination with the City of Bridgeport and the Town of Stratford, implement a plan to resolve environmental considerations, and proceed with the installation of an approach lighting system on run\vay 6 as soon as possible. (A-94-212) 

to the Connecticut Department of Transportation: 

• ​In coordination with the City of Bridgeport, the Town of Stratford and Sikorsky Memorial Airport, relocate state highway 113 away from the runway 24 threshold to provide cidcquate distance between airplanes and highway 113 to protect vehicles and persons from jet blast. (A-94-213) 

to the City of Bridgeport, Connecticut 

• In coordination with the State of Connecticut and the Town of Stratford, following the relocationof state highway 113, Sikorsky Memorial Airport should immediately establish a runway safety area at the approach end of runway 24 in accordance with Federal Aviation Adminitrative Advisory Circular 150\'5300-13 aud remove the nonfrangible blast fence. (A- 94-214)
• ​Within 90 days, and in coordination with the Federal Aviation Administration and the Town of Stratford, implement a plan to resolve environmental considerations, and proceed with the installation of an approach lighting system on runway 6 as soon as possible. (A-94-215) 
  

to the Town of Stratford, Connecticut: 

• ​In coordination with the State of Connecticut and the City of Bridgeport, following the relocation of state highway 113, Sikorsky Memorial Airport should immediately establish a runway safety area at the approach end of runway 24 in accordance with Federal Aviation Administration Advisory Circular 150\5300-13 and remove the nonfrangible blast fence. (A- 94-216)
• Within 90 days, and in coordination with the Federal Aviation Administration and the City of Bridgeport, implement a plan to resolve environmental considerations, and proceed with the installation of an approach lighting system on runway 6 as soon as possible. (A-94-217)