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April 23, 1986 · Piper PA-28-140 · N44331

Spring Valley, NY

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
April 23, 1986
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (2 serious injuries)
Location
Spring Valley, NY
Aircraft
Piper PA-28-140
Tail Number
N44331
Operator
Vincent Rovito/Geo Victorov
Injuries
Serious
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
NYC86FA111

The pax stated that he and the plt were at a bar where they had about three beers prior to this flight. During the flight the pilot did several stalls and some aerobatic maneuvers. The pax was unnerved and told the plt that he wanted to return to the arpt. During the final apch leg to the arpt the plt undershot the rwy and the acft collided with trees located about 475 ft from and below the elevation of the rwy. A witness saw the acft apch the arpt in a normal manner with the engine running before the collision. The plt was comatose for several days afterwards and has no recollection of the accident. The pax reported no problem with the acft before the accident. Exam of the acft did not disclose evidence of malfunction. The barometric pressure was 29.75. The altimeter was set to 30.40. According to the plt's logbook, the plt's last flt and last night flt were respectively 6 and 5.5 months before the accident date. A blood alcohol test was not performed on the plt because of his injuries.

Full Narrative

THE PAX STATED THAT HE & THE PLT WERE AT A BAR WHERE THEY HAD ABOUT THREE BEERS RPIOR TO THIS FLIGHT. DURING THE FLIGHT THE PILOT DID SEVERAL STALLS AND SOME AEROBATIC MANEUVERS. THE PAX WAS UNNERVED AND TOLD THE PLT THAT HE WANTED TO RETURN TO THE ARPT. DURING THE FINAL APCH LEG TO THE ARPT THE PLT UNDERSHOT THE RWY AND THE ACFT COLLIDED WITHTREES LOCATED ABOUT 475 FT FROM AND BELOW THE ELEVATION OF THE RWY. A WITNESS SAW THE ACFT APCH THE ARPT IN A NORMAL MANNER WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING BEFORE THE COLLISION. THE PLT WAS COMATOSE FOR SEVERAL DAYS AFTERWARDS AND HAS NO RECOLLECTION OF THE ACCIDENT. THE PAX REPORTED NO PROBLEM WITH THE ACFT BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. EXAM OF THE ACFT DID NOT DISCLOSE EVIDENCE OF MALFUNCTION. THE BAROMETERIC PRESSURE WAS 29.75. THE ALTIMETER WAS SET TO 30.40. ACCORDING TO THE PLT'S LOGBOOK, THE PLT'S LAST FLT AND LAST NIGHT FLT WERE RESPECTIVELY 6 AND 5.5 MONTHS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT DATE. A BLOOD ALCOHOL TEST WAS NOT PERFORMED ON THE PLT BECAUSE OF HIS INJURIES.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time19:10 EST
Nearest AirportRamapo Valley (1nm E)
Runway26
Runway Length2185 ft
Runway Width50 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-28-140
Tail NumberN44331
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorVincent Rovito/Geo Victorov
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-320-D2A · Reciprocating · 150
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury Summary2 injuries (2 serious injuries)
Fatal0
Serious2
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total2
Crew 1Age 28 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightBright Night
Wind340° @ 12 kt, gusting 20 kt
Visibility15 sm
CeilingOvercast 2800 ft
Temperature / Dew Point50 / 36 C
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time23:45
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data