# NTSB NYC81FA017: Piper PA-32, N3694W, Philadelphia, PA, December 28, 1980

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: December 28, 1980
- Place: Philadelphia, PA · PHILADELPHIA, PA
- Location: 39.9523° N, 75.1638° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Philadelphia, PA, within about 7 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.9523&lon=-75.1638&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report March 15, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 127620
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC81FA017
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC81FA017

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3277  80/12/28   PHILADELPHIA,PA     PIPER PA-32         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR.,
        TIME - 1741                    N3694W              PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  AGE 30, 1079 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            UNK/NR IN TYPE,
                                                                                                   INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - PHILADELPHIA INTL
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          WINSTON-SALEM,NC            PHILADELPHIA,PA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IFR OPERATION
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - FOG
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST IN WATER
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OBSCURATION                                               200
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          3/4 MILE OR LESS                                         NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES
          FOG                                                       50
        WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS                                      TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
           12                                                      IFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR
        REMARKS- ILS RWY 9R.HIT WATER APRX 1/2MI SE OF THRESHOLD.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3694W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3694W-2011-01-12), registration cancelled 2011-01-12, S/N 32-606, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32
- Registry model: [Piper PA-32-260](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-260) (registry code 7103206) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Philadelphia Intl

## 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 19801228086679A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19801228086679A), Dec 28, 1980: Piper PA32260, Philadelphia, PA, Destroyed. Crashed into river beyond departure end of runway on missed approach. Ceiling & visibility near zero, crash area.

## Other investigations on N3694W (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 CHI68D0211](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI68D0211), Jul 16, 1967: Piper PA-32 (N3694W), North Benton, OH, substantial damage

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.

---
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.