# NTSB BFO86FA002: Piper PA-32RT-300T, N2106X, Gaithersburg, MD, October 4, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: October 4, 1985, 19:08 local (23:08 UTC)
- Place: Gaithersburg, MD
- Coordinates: 39.169872, -77.179267 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.1699&lon=-77.1793&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 11195
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO86FA002
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/11195/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO86FA002

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight collision with object, approach
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - flight advisories - delayed, atc personnel(dep/apch)
- In flight collision with object, circling (ifr)
  - weather condition - below approach/landing minimums (contributing factor)
  - missed approach - not performed, pilot in command (cause)
  - proper altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE PLT WAS CLRD FOR A VOR RWY 14 APCH. ON APCH, HE RPRTD AT THE SLEET INTXN (A FIX ON THE NDB APCH). THE ACFT WAS THEN SEEN FLYING OVR THE ARPT ON AN EASTERLY HDG. UNICOM OPERATOR SAID HE THEN HEARD THE PLT CALL "TURNING FINAL."  HOWEVER, BFR LNDG, THE ACFT HIT TREES & CRASHED APRX .6 MI EAST OF THE ARPT. NO PREIMPACT MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WERE FND. WITNESSESESTD A 200' CEILING, VIS 1/4 TO 1/2 MI. A WX STUDY INDCD THE CLD BASES WERE NR 600' MSL, THE VIS (BLO CLDS) WAS LESS 1 MI. MIN DSCNT ALT (MDA) & CIRCLING MIN ALT FOR THE APCH WERE 1180'. ARPT ELEV WAS 540'. DRG ARR, BFR REACHING THE VOR INITIAL APCH FIX (IAF) (17.3 MI NW OF ARPT), THE BWI CTLR CLRD THE PLT TO THE MIN VECTORING ALT (400' BLO THE IAF ALT), BUT DELAYED ADVISING FOR 8-1/2 MIN THAT RADAR CONTACT WAS LOST. AFTER REACHING THE IAF, THE PLT DELAYED TURNING OUTBND TWD THE HOLDING PATTERN. HE CONTD THE TURN & INTERCEPTED THE INBND COURSE FOR THE APCH APRX 15 MI NW OF THE ARPT. ARTCC RADAR (NOT AVAILABLE TO THE CTLR) SHOWED THE ACFT TRACKED RGT OF COURSE UNTIL CONTACT WAS LOST APRX 4 MI NW OF ARPT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2106X](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2106X-2013-08-07), registration cancelled 2013-08-07, S/N 32R-7987121 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32RT-300T (PA-32RT-30)
- Registry model: [Piper PA-32RT-300T](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32rt-300t) (registry code 7103216) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 79-87121
- Engines: LYCOMING TIO-540-S1AD 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Operator: William P. Mcintosh
- Registered owner: Deb. Co. Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, October 1, 1984, 19 hours before
- Departed: BED, BEDFORD, MA
- Destination: GAI
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: GAI, Montgomery County, runway 14, 4,235 × 73 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 53; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 905 total, 232 in this make and model, 768 as pilot in command, 28 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 120° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 200 ft overcast
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19851004077669A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19851004077669A), Oct 4, 1985: Piper PA32RT300T, Gaithersburg, MD, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Broke out VOR approach over airport under low ceiling. Struck trees circling to land. Flew sloppy VOR approach.

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.

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