# NTSB investigations: Piper PA-23-250: In flight collision with terrain/water

NTSB aviation accident and incident investigations since 1962: the probable cause, findings, aircraft, crew, weather and docket of each, linked to the FAA registry and the FAA’s own reports.

## Latest cases

- [NTSB NYC06FA034](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC06FA034.md): Piper PA-23-250 · Burlington, VT · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Nov 22, 2005 · N26399 · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to follow the published instrument flight procedure, which resulted in an in-flight collision with terrain. Factors in the accident were the local air traffic controller's inadequate monitoring of the MSAW system, and his delayed…
- [NTSB MIA98FA155](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA98FA155.md): Piper PA-23-250 · Fargo, GA · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · May 7, 1998 · N4BN · Destroyed
  > the left engine propeller blades struck the runway surface during takeoff, resulting in the pilot losing control of the airplane, and subsequently impacting with trees.
- [NTSB ATL97LA071](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL97LA071.md): Piper PA-23-250 · Jacksonville, FL · Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · May 8, 1997 · N520SM · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain terrain clearance while on a low pass, leading to propeller damage. A factor was birds in the area.
- [NTSB FTW97LA040](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW97LA040.md): Piper PA-23-250 · Plainview, TX · Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Nov 13, 1996 · N5443 · Substantial damage
  > the pilot's continued descent below the minimum descent altitude (MDA). Factors relating to the accident were: darkness, the adverse weather conditions.
- [NTSB CHI96FA048](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI96FA048.md): Piper PA-23-250 · Laupahoehoe, HI · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Dec 7, 1995 · N6687Y · Destroyed
  > the pilot falling asleep at the controls due to fatigue. Factors were: the pilot's inadequate preflight preparation and the dark night.
- [NTSB CHI95FA018](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI95FA018.md): Piper PA-23-250 · Sellersburg, IN · Accident · 5 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Oct 20, 1994 · N40509 · Destroyed
  > Failure of the pilot to follow IFR procedures by allowing the aircraft to deviate left of the ILS localizer course, by not maintaining the proper ILS glide path, and by continuing descent below the ILS decision height.
- [NTSB SEA93FA084](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA93FA084.md): Piper PA-23-250 · Estacada, OR · Accident · 4 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Mar 29, 1993 · N63888 · Destroyed
  > Failure of the pilot to maintain proper clearance (and/or altitude) from moutainous terrain. Factors related to the accident were: darkness, clouds, low ceilings, and the high (mountainous) terrain in the area of the accident site.
- [NTSB NYC92FA079](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC92FA079.md): Piper PA-23-250 · Hamburg, PA · Accident · 4 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Apr 17, 1992 · N62774 · Destroyed
  > The pilot's improper in-flight decision, his failure to follow proper IFR procedures, and an improperly planned approach, which resulted in an inflight collision with rising terrain during the execution of the missed approach procedure. Factors related to the…
- [NTSB ATL88IA096](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL88IA096.md): Piper PA-23-250 · Elyria, OH · Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report · Feb 21, 1988 · N5740Y · Minor damage
- [NTSB CHI88FA046](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI88FA046.md): Piper PA-23-250 · Carbondale, IL · Accident · 3 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jan 18, 1988 · N40265 · Destroyed
  > Shortly after reporting the outer marker while executing an ILS runway 18 approach in actual instrument meteorological conditions, the aircraft deviated left of the localizer centerline. At a position approximately 1/2 mile outside the middle marker and about…
- [NTSB FTW87FA184](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW87FA184.md): Piper PA-23-250 · Imperial, TX · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Aug 1, 1987 · N5998Y · Destroyed
  > After takeoff, the plt elected to fly low over a reservoir. He stated that as he began a pass, not FAR from the water's edge, the acft enctrd a sink. He said he '... Checked power, all ok, plane just seemed to lose all lift...' Subsequently, the acft…
- [NTSB NYC87LA193](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC87LA193.md): Piper PA-23-250 · Sandy Creek, NY · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jun 29, 1987 · N4627P · Substantial damage
  > The pilot of the PA-23-250 attempted a takeoff on a 2200 ft long private airstrip with a grass runway. Witnesses reported the aircraft was airborne further down the runway than normal. The aircraft did not clear the trees on the departure end of the runway.…
- [NTSB MIA87LA026](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA87LA026.md): Piper PA-23-250 · Marathon, FL · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Nov 7, 1986 · N2107C · Destroyed
  > While being followed at a low altitude by a united states customs service aircraft, the aircraft was observed entering a left turn. The left wing tip of the aircraft struck the water and it cartwheeled. After the crash, bales of an unknown substance floated…
- [NTSB ATL86LA061](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL86LA061.md): Piper PA-23-250 · Rural Retreat, VA · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jan 20, 1986 · N14259 · Substantial damage
  > Pilot said first adf approach terminated by missed approach due to oscillating directional needle. On second approach acft broke out of clouds with trees in front of acft. It impacted a cloud obscured ridge 3.5 miles southeast of airport on a southerly…
- [NTSB NYC86LA044](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC86LA044.md): Piper Aztec · North Adams, MA · Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Nov 26, 1985 · N6LQ · Destroyed
  > The flight departed albany new york under VFR conditions and picked up IFR clearance to pittsfield, MA. The pilot flew the approach until reaching VFR under a cloud layer at about 2500 ft. continuing VFR toward no. Adams at an altitude of 2000 ft, the pilot…
- [NTSB MIA85LA151](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA85LA151.md): Piper PA-23-250 · Miami, FL · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Apr 19, 1985 · N6984Y · Substantial damage
  > The plt stated that he permitted a non-plt pax to close the cabin door & he, the plt did not check it. Shortly after liftoff the landing gear was retracted & the door popped open. The pax turned in his seat to close the door & bumped the yoke forcing the acft…
- [NTSB LAX84FA277](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX84FA277.md): Piper PA-23-250 · Ukiah, CA · Accident · 3 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · May 1, 1984 · N63813 · Destroyed
  > During arrival, the plt was cleared for a loc/dme rwy 15 apch to the Ukiah arpt. At 1307 PDT, he began the apch at the tucci intersection, 15.5 mi north of the rwy. At 1311:04 the last radar contact showed that the acft was about 5 mi north of the arpt. At…
- [NTSB MIA84FA006](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA84FA006.md): Piper PA-23-250 · Cornwell, FL · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Oct 10, 1983 · N6830Y · Destroyed
  > The acft was found with a large amount of burned marijuna onboard & the cargo door open.
- [NTSB CHI83LA211](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI83LA211.md): Piper PA-23-250 · East Liverpool, OH · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · May 13, 1983 · N5512Y · Substantial damage
  > During the approach, the plt neglected to extend the gear, aand subsequently, made a wheels up landing.
- [NTSB MIA82DA094](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA82DA094.md): Piper PA-23-250 · Jacksonville, FL · Accident · No injuries · Final report · Apr 11, 1982 · N4881P · Substantial damage
  > Immediately after raising the gear handle during takeoff, the pilot heard a loud noise that he thought was an explosion. He aborted the takeoff and landed on the remaining runway without extending the gear. The loud noise occurred when the cabin door popped…
- [NTSB NYC82FA029](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC82FA029.md): Piper PA-23-250 · Newburgh, NY · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Feb 3, 1982 · N62481 · Destroyed
  > At 2234 the plt was issued a vector to the initial approach fix for the ILS rwy 9 apch. He was also issued the followingwx "...stewart weather thirty minutes ago is estimated one thousand overcast six miles in light rain and haze." At 2238 the plt was advised…
- [NTSB LAX82FUJ25](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX82FUJ25.md): Piper PA-23-250 · Bagdad, AZ · Accident · Serious injuries · Final report · Jan 21, 1982 · N40291 · Destroyed
  > The pilot attempted to fly from phoenix to Bagdad, AZ under a low overcast. When it became obvious that weather conditions were too poor for a landing the pilot attempted to reverse direction and the aircraft struck high terrain.

## The whole list in SQL

Runs in DuckDB 1.2 or later on the release's Parquet files over HTTPS:

```sql
SELECT c."ntsbNumber", c."eventDate", c."eventType", c."eventCity", c."eventStateOrRegion", a.n_number, a."aircraftMake", a."aircraftModel", c."highestInjuryLevel", c."totalFatal", c."completionStatus", c.report_url
FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_case_detail.parquet' c LEFT JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' a ON a.case_mkey = c."mKey" AND a.position = 1
WHERE c."mKey" IN (SELECT x.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' x WHERE x.aircraft_model_code IN ('7102308')
    AND EXISTS (SELECT 1 FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_occurrences.parquet' o WHERE o.case_mkey = x.case_mkey AND o.aircrafts_position = x.position AND o."occurrenceNumber" = 1 AND o."occurrenceCode" = 230))
ORDER BY c."eventDate" DESC, c."ntsbNumber" DESC
```

This list as a web page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb?model=7102308&occurrence=230

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.
