Yesterday, well for the past few days, the fog has been pretty heavy along our coast. Here in Mystic visibility has often been lower than 100m. Personally I love the fog. The smell of the ocean is strong, and the air, while heavy, feels very cool on the skin. For the boaters it can be a hazard, it’s true, but with modern GPS guidance and the relit lighthouses, well marked hazards, bouys etc… most boats still venture out. The Amistad in particular looked amazing gliding through the mists yesterday morning. (Picture to come).
Unfortunately the airport in Groton is located right on the coast, about 2km from Avery Point by road, 600m by boat. Yesterday afternoon while at work in the Marine Sciences building we all heard a thounderous noise. Made me jump. Even inside it was very loud. Since there were no storm clouds around, we all knew it could only be one thing…an airplane. Shortly afterward a Coast Guard rescue chopper appeared onscene, confirming our fears.
A twin engined Learjet was making instrument approach to the airport from the south and came in about 1800ft short. Unfortunately, 1800′ at this airport means landing in the sound. The plane clipped at least one of the navigational lighting platforms of Jupiter Point. The markers are designed to warn pilots of low approach. After hitting the platform the jet apparently flipped, landing upside down in Bakers Cove. Both pilots died on the scene. Fortunately the three passengers all survived with only minor injuries. The cove is only 3–6 feet deep where they crashed, so the survivors were able to walk, literally, away from the wreckage. They were however picked up by a few fishermen in small boats who had been fishing the cove.
The plane was owned by Pat Robertson’s organization and was taking the three passengers from Norfolk, VA to a charity event at the nearby Foxwoods Casino.
While still very early in the cleanup effort there is some good news, from the investigation and environmental cleanup aspect. The wreck, along with the jet fuel and oil is well contained in a debree area about the size of a football field. Considering that this area is the entrance to a marsh and estuary area that extends for another kilometer inland that is good news. The crash of two years ago was not nearly as well confined. That one also hit a house and exploded though, spraying fuel and oil into a much larger area of water. I can’t recall the details of last year’s big wreck except that they were part of a flying club on their way to a rally somewhere. Yes, one crash a year at least, and almost always into the water, and almost always in foggy conditions. Considering how often the coast is shrouded in fog though…
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