# Accident 20040402004129A: Piper PA28R180, Saranac Lake, NY, April 2, 2004

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 2, 2004, 19:25 local time
- Place: Saranac Lake, NY
- Airport: Adirondack
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Final Approach-IFR
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 44.4092° N, 74.1950° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.4092&lon=-74.1950&mi=10
- Aircraft: N4686J, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4686J-2013-09-16) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-28R-180 (registry code 7102809, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-180) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming I0360 series (registry code 41515, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA28R180
- Reported engine: LYC IO360B1E
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 2
- Pilot flight hours: 1,215 total, 480 in this make and model, 16 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB NYC04FA100](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC04FA100) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040402004129A

## Narrative

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

(-23) N4686J DEPARTED JYO AT APPROXIMATELY 1550 LOCAL AND FLEW NON-STOP TO SLK ON 04/02/2004. THE AIRCRAFT WAS CLEARED FOR AN ILS APPROACH TO RWY 23 AT SLK BY BOS CENTER AT APPROXIMATELY 1905 THE PILOT REQUESTED THE LOCAL ALTIMETER SETTING FROM SLK UNICOM AND STATED THAT HE WAS ABOUT 4 MILES OUT. THE WEATHER AT SLK WAS 1 3/4 MILES VISIBILITY WITH A 200 FOOT OVERCAST IN LIGHT SNOW, TEMPERATURE 01 AND DEW POINT 00. THE PILOT HAD REPORTED TO ATC THAT HE WAS PICKING UP SOME ICE WHILE ENROUTE AT THE CRUISE ALTITUDE (FILED FOR 5,000'). THE AIRCRAFT CAME INTO CONTACT WITH SEVERAL TREES .8 MILE FROM THE END OF RWY 23, THEN TRAVELED ABOUT 150' BEFORE IMPACT WITH THE GROUND INVERTED AT APPROXIMATELY 1925. THE WRECKAGE WAS FOUND 700' WEST OF THE RWY CENTERLINE ON A HEADING OF 230 DEGREES. THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF FIRE BEFORE OR AFTER THE CRASH. THE PILOT AND PASSENGER WERE BOTH FATALLY INJURED.

## 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 NYC04FA100](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC04FA100), Apr 3, 2004: Piper PA-28R-180 (N4686J), Harrietstown, NY, substantial damage, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to follow instrument flight rules procedures resulting in a collision with a tree. Factors related to the accident were the dark night conditions, low visibility, and low cloud…

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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