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NTSB Report

April 16, 1984 · Beech 35-C33 · N15VP

Toms River, NJ

Overview

Report Status

Preliminary report

Event Type

Accident

Date

April 16, 1984

Injury Outcomes

2 injuries (2 serious injuries)

Location

Toms River, NJ

Aircraft

Beech 35-C33

Tail Number

N15VP

Operator

Richard Vander Ploeg

Injuries

Serious

Aircraft Damage

Destroyed

NTSB Number

NYC84FA138

PLT STATED THAT WHEN USING HIS BIFOCAL CORRECTIVE LENSES, HE HAD TO TILT HIS HEAD BACK TO INCLUDE THE ALTIMETER IN HIS INSTRUMENT SCAN. IN THE FINAL PHASE OF THE APPROACH, HE FAILED TO NOTE THE ALTIMETER AND COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN.

Full Narrative

PLT STATED THAT WHEN USING HIS BIFOCAL CORRECTIVE LENSES, HE HAD TO TILT HIS HEAD BACK TO INCLUDE THE ALTIMETER IN HIS INSTRUMENT SCAN. IN THE FINAL PHASE OF THE APPROACH, HE FAILED TO NOTE THE ALTIMETER AND COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN.

Flight

Event TypeAccident

Event Time19:54 EST

Nearest AirportAir Park Airport (5nm WSW)

Runway6

Runway Length5953 ft

Runway Width80 ft

Flight Plan FiledIFR

Aircraft FireGrd

Aircraft ExplosionGrd

Aircraft

AircraftBeech 35-C33

Tail NumberN15VP

Aircraft CategoryAir

DamageDestroyed

OperatorRichard Vander Ploeg

Operating RulePart 91

Engines1

Engine TypeReciprocating

Engine DetailsContinental · IO-470-K · Reciprocating · 260

Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury Summary2 injuries (2 serious injuries)

Fatal0

Serious2

Minor0

Uninjured0

Total2

Crew 1Age 51 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsIMC

LightDark Night

Wind80° @ 9 kt

Visibility1 sm

CeilingOvercast 200 ft

Temperature / Dew Point46 / 46

Altimeter29.00 inHg

Observation Time00:54

Weather SourceWFAC

500 – Data service is offline

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April 16, 1984 · Beech 35-C33 · N15VP

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