# Accident 20090808017862A: Piper PA32R300, Hoboken, NJ, August 8, 2009

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 8, 2009, 12:53 local time
- Place: Hoboken, NJ
- Damage: Destroyed
- Collision: Midair collision, second aircraft
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 40.7433° N, 74.0217° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.7433&lon=-74.0217&mi=10
- Aircraft: N71MC, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N71MC-2011-09-28) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-32R-300 (registry code 7103213, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32r-300) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming TI0-540 series (registry code 41533, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA32R300
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 2
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 1,020 total, 0 in this make and model, 0 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA09MA447](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09MA447) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090808017862A

## Narrative

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

PIPER LANCE N71MC AND EUROCOPTER N401LH WERE DESTROYED WHEN THEY COLLIDED IN MIDAIR OVER THE HUDSON RIVER NEaR HOBOKEN, NJ.  THE COLLISION KILLED THE PILOT AND PASSENGER OF THE LANCE AND THE PILOT AND 5 PASSENGERS ABOARD THE HELICOPTER.  THE PIPER LANCE WAS OPERATING UNDER 14 CFR 91 AND HAD BEEN IN CONTACT WITH THE TETERBORO ATCT RECEIVING FLIGHT FOLLOWING SERVICES FOR THE FLIGHT TO OCEAN CITY, NJ.  THE HELICOPTER WAS OPERATING UNDER 14 CFR 137 SIGHTSEEING IN THE HUDSON RIVER CLASS B EXCLUSIONARY AIRSPACE.  THE AIRCRAFT WERE OPERATING ON DIFFERENCE RADIO FREQUENCIES AND WERE UNAWARE OF EACH OTHER PRIOR TO THE COLLISION.  THE HELICOPTER HAD JUST REACHED ITS INTENDED CRUISE ALTITUDE OF 1,100 MSL WHEN THE LANCE OVERTOOK IT FROM ITS RIGHT REAR.  BOTH AIRCRAFT WERE PROCEEDING IN A SOUTHERLY DIRECTION.

## 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 ERA09MA447](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09MA447), Aug 8, 2009: Piper PA-32R-300 (N71MC), Hoboken, NJ, substantial damage, 9 fatal. Probable cause: (1) the inherent limitations of the see-and-avoid concept, which made it difficult for the airplane pilot to see the helicopter until the final seconds before the collision, and (2) the Teterboro…

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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