# NTSB BFO87FA031: Piper PA-24-250, N5821P, Salisbury, MD, April 21, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: April 20, 1987, 20:47 local (Apr 21, 1987, 00:47 UTC)
- Place: Salisbury, MD
- Coordinates: 38.37984, -75.639801 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.3798&lon=-75.6398&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report January 25, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 11284
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO87FA031
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/11284/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO87FA031

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, approach - faf/outer marker to threshold (ifr)
  - weather condition - unfavorable wind (contributing factor)
  - performed
  - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause)
  - fuel supply - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- In flight collision with object, landing - flare/touchdown
  - light condition - night (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)

## Analysis

ON A FLT FROM HILTON HEAD, SC TO WOODSTOWN, NJ, THE PLT ENCTRD HEADWINDS & DIVERTED TO SALISBURY, MD, A LESS DISTANT ARPT. DRG ARRIVAL AT 1944, HE WAS PROVIDED WX INFO CONCERNING A LOW CEILING & VISIBILITY. AT 1955, HE WAS INSTRUCTED TO HOLD UPON REACHING A CLNC LIMIT & WAS ADZD TO EXPECT FURTHER CLNC AT 2030. THE PLT HAD DIFFICULTY GETTING ESTABLISHEDON THE VOR RWY 5 APCH & WAS VECTORED ON FINAL APCH. AT 2046:53, ABOUT 2 MIN AFTER BEING ESTABLISHED ON THE APCH, THE PLT STATED THE ACFT RAN OUT OF FUEL & DECLARED AN EMERG. DRG AN EMERG LANDING, ABOUT 5 MI SW OF THE ARPT, THE ACFT CRASHED ON WOODED TERRAIN AFTER BEING AIRBORNE APRX 4.3 HRS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N5821P (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-24-250
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 24902
- Airframe hours: 2216
- Engines: LYCOMING O-540-A1C5 250 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: David Collin
- Registered owner: David Collins
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, December 4, 1986, 40 hours before
- Departed: 49J, HILTON HEAD, SC
- Destination: SBY
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: SBY, Salisbury-Wicomico County, runway 5, 5,000 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 52; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 359 total, 89 in this make and model, 274 as pilot in command, 3 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 40° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 800 ft overcast
- Temperature: 57 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: SBY, 4 nm away

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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