# Accident 19970702016619A: Piper PA28R180, Penobscot, ME, July 2, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 2, 1997, 20:36 local time
- Place: Penobscot, ME
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 44.3879° N, 68.7998° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Penobscot, ME, within about 7 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.3879&lon=-68.7998&mi=10
- Aircraft: N3896T, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3896T-1998-12-22) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-28R-180 (registry code 7102809, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-180) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA28R180
- Reported engine: LYC IO360B1E
- People aboard: 4
- Fatal injuries: 4
- Pilot flight hours: 200 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB IAD97FA095](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD97FA095) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970702016619A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(.4)THE PILOT AND PASSENGERS WERE RETURNING HOME FROM A SIGHTSEEING FLIGHT, WHEN A WITNESS OBSERVED THE AIRPLANE IN A SHARP RIGHT TURN BEFORE IT DESCENDED, IMPACTED AND SANK IN ABOUT 70 FEET OF WATER. SEARCH EFFORTS LOCATED SOME AIRPLANE PARTS INCLUDING THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR, AN AIRPLANE SEAT WITH THE N NUMBER WRITTEN ON THE BACK OF THE SEAT, AND PIECES OF INSULATION.  THE MAIN WRECKAGE WAS NOT RECOVERED.  THE PILOT HAD OBTAINED AN ABBREVIATED WEATHER BRIEFING EARLIER IN THE DAY, AND SAID THAT THE WEATHER 'LOOKED FINE'.  HE WAS NOT INSTRUMENT RATED, AND ACCORDING TO THE AIRPORT MANAGER, HAD VERY LITTLE INSTRUMENT EXPERIENCE.  WITNESSES REPORTED FOG IN THE AREA AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. ACCORDING TO THE CLOSEST WEATHER OBSERVATION STATION, THE REPORTED CEILING WAS 900 FEET OVERCAST.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB IAD97FA095](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD97FA095), Jul 3, 1997: Piper PA-28R-180 (N3896T), Penobscot, ME, destroyed, 4 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's flight into adverse weather conditions, which resulted in the loss of control. Factors relating to the accident were the fog and the pilot's lack of an instrument rating.

## Other reports on N3896T (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 19850305012949I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850305012949I), Mar 5, 1985: Piper PA28R180 (N3896T), Miami, FL. Engine developed loss of oil in flight. Shutoff engine and made safe landing.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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