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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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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NTSB Report

August 22, 1986 · Piper PA-24-260 · N8734P

Ft. Dix, NJ

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
August 22, 1986
Injury Outcomes
3 injuries (3 fatalities)
Location
Ft. Dix, NJ
Aircraft
Piper PA-24-260
Tail Number
N8734P
Operator
Norman a Sharpless/Wm Shirey
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
NYC86FA214

THE ACFT WAS HEADED SW ON VICTOR SIXTEEN INBOUND TO COYLE VOR WHEN THE PLT REPORTED THE LOSS OF GYRO INSTRUMENTS. THE ACFT WAS AT 6000 FT AND IN 'SOLID IFR WEATHER.' THE PLT ELECTED NOT TO DECLARE EMERGENCY AND LAND WHEN ASKED IF HE WANTED TO DO SO BY ATC. THE PLT STATED THAT HE WOULD CONTINUE THE FLIGHT. SHORTLY AFTER THE PLT REPORTED LOSS OF GYRO INSTRUMENTS THE ACFT BEGAN TO LOSE ALTITUDE AND VEER OFF OF COURSE. ATC INFORMED THE PLT OF THE ACFT DEVIATION AND THE PLT RESPONED THAT HE WOULD TAKE CORRECTIVE ACTION. THE ACFT CONTINUED TO DEVIATE UNTIL IT HAD DESCENDED TO 5200 FT WHEN THE PLT RADIOED AN ABRUPTLY ENDED TRANSMISSION: '...I'M IN TROUBLE.' THERE WAS NO FURTHER TRANSMISSION FROM THE PLT. THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND IN A WOODED AREA AND THE WRECKAGE WAS STREWN A DISTANCE OF ABOUT 1700 FT IN A NORTHERNLY DIRECTION. THERE WAS WING, TAIL AND FUSELAGE SEPARATION OF THE ACFT.

Full Narrative

THE ACFT WAS HEADED SW ON VICTOR SIXTEEN INBOUND TO COYLE VOR WHEN THE PLT REPORTED THE LOSS OF GYRO INSTRUMENTS. THE ACFT WAS AT 6000 FT AND IN 'SOLID IFR WEATHER.' THE PLT ELECTED NOT TO DECLARE EMERGENCY AND LAND WHEN ASKED IF HE WANTED TO DO SO BY ATC. THE PLT STATED THAT HE WOULD CONTINUE THE FLIGHT. SHORTLY AFTER THE PLT REPORTED LOSS OF GYRO INSTRUMENTS THE ACFT BEGAN TO LOSE ALTITUDE AND VEER OFF OF COURSE. ATC INFORMED THE PLT OF THE ACFT DEVIATION AND THE PLT RESPONED THAT HE WOULD TAKE CORRECTIVE ACTION. THE ACFT CONTINUED TO DEVIATE UNTIL IT HAD DESCENDED TO 5200 FT WHEN THE PLT RADIOED AN ABRUPTLY ENDED TRANSMISSION: '...I'M IN TROUBLE.' THERE WAS NO FURTHER TRANSMISSION FROM THE PLT. THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND IN A WOODED AREA AND THE WRECKAGE WAS STREWN A DISTANCE OF ABOUT 1700 FT IN A NORTHERNLY DIRECTION. THERE WAS WING, TAIL AND FUSELAGE SEPARATION OF THE ACFT.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time15:06 EDT
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Runway Length0
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-24-260
Tail NumberN8734P
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorNorman a Sharpless/Wm Shirey
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · IO-540-D4A5 · Reciprocating · 260
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury Summary3 injuries (3 fatalities)
Fatal3
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total3
Crew 1Age 56 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsIMC
LightDaylight
Wind70° @ 11 kt
Visibility6 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 800 ft
Temperature / Dew Point66 F / 61 F
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time19:17
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data