# NTSB NYC80FA050: Piper PA-28, N6396J, Ocean City, NJ, July 4, 1980

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: July 4, 1980
- Place: Ocean City, NJ · OCEAN CITY, NJ
- Location: 39.2693° N, 74.6014° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Ocean City, NJ, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.2693&lon=-74.6014&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 5 fatal
- Status: Completed, report August 21, 1980
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 129804
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC80FA050
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC80FA050

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0857   80/7/4    OCEAN CITY,NJ       PIPER PA-28         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 42, 475
        TIME - 2340                    N6396J              PX-  4  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, UNK/NR IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, NOT INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - OCEAN CITY
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          OCEAN CITY,NJ               PHILADELPHIA,PA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                TAKEOFF: INITIAL CLIMB
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INITIATED FLIGHT IN ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - FOG
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          CLEAR                                                    UNLIMITED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          3 MILES OR LESS                                          NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          GROUND FOG                                               CALM
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      NONE
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6396J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6396J-1982-11-17), registration cancelled 1982-11-17, S/N 28-4811 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180) (registry code 7102808) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Ocean City

## 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 19800704024629A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19800704024629A), Jul 4, 1980: Piper PA28180, Ocean City, NJ, Destroyed, 4 fatal. Pilot took off in foggy conditions. Crashed in bay shortly after takeoff. Pilot not instrument-rated.

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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