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NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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April 21, 1987 · Piper PA-24-250 · N5821P

Salisbury, MD

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
April 21, 1987
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 fatality)
Location
Salisbury, MD
Aircraft
Piper PA-24-250
Tail Number
N5821P
Operator
David Collin
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
BFO87FA031

ON A FLT FROM HILTON HEAD, SC TO WOODSTOWN, NJ, THE PLT ENCTRD HEADWINDS & DIVERTED TO SALISBURY, MD, A LESS DISTANT ARPT. DRG ARRIVAL AT 1944, HE WAS PROVIDED WX INFO CONCERNING A LOW CEILING & VISIBILITY. AT 1955, HE WAS INSTRUCTED TO HOLD UPON REACHING A CLNC LIMIT & WAS ADZD TO EXPECT FURTHER CLNC AT 2030. THE PLT HAD DIFFICULTY GETTING ESTABLISHEDON THE VOR RWY 5 APCH & WAS VECTORED ON FINAL APCH. AT 2046:53, ABOUT 2 MIN AFTER BEING ESTABLISHED ON THE APCH, THE PLT STATED THE ACFT RAN OUT OF FUEL & DECLARED AN EMERG. DRG AN EMERG LANDING, ABOUT 5 MI SW OF THE ARPT, THE ACFT CRASHED ON WOODED TERRAIN AFTER BEING AIRBORNE APRX 4.3 HRS.

Full Narrative

ON A FLT FROM HILTON HEAD, SC TO WOODSTOWN, NJ, THE PLT ENCTRD HEADWINDS & DIVERTED TO SALISBURY, MD, A LESS DISTANT ARPT. DRG ARRIVAL AT 1944, HE WAS PROVIDED WX INFO CONCERNING A LOW CEILING & VISIBILITY. AT 1955, HE WAS INSTRUCTED TO HOLD UPON REACHING A CLNC LIMIT & WAS ADZD TO EXPECT FURTHER CLNC AT 2030. THE PLT HAD DIFFICULTY GETTING ESTABLISHEDON THE VOR RWY 5 APCH & WAS VECTORED ON FINAL APCH. AT 2046:53, ABOUT 2 MIN AFTER BEING ESTABLISHED ON THE APCH, THE PLT STATED THE ACFT RAN OUT OF FUEL & DECLARED AN EMERG. DRG AN EMERG LANDING, ABOUT 5 MI SW OF THE ARPT, THE ACFT CRASHED ON WOODED TERRAIN AFTER BEING AIRBORNE APRX 4.3 HRS.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time20:47 EDT
Nearest AirportSalisbury-Wicomico County (0nm N)
Runway5
Runway Length5000 ft
Runway Width150 ft
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-24-250
Tail NumberN5821P
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorDavid Collin
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-540-A1C5 · Reciprocating · 250
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 fatality)
Fatal1
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 52 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsIMC
LightDark Night
Wind40° @ 10 kt
Visibility3 sm
CeilingOvercast 800 ft
Temperature / Dew Point57 / 0 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time00:52
Weather SourceWFAC

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Appendix: Source Data