# NTSB NYC82FA181: Piper PA-28-161, N81786, Concord, NH, August 4, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: August 4, 1982, 04:10 local (08:10 UTC)
- Place: Concord, NH
- Location: 43.2081° N, 71.5376° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Concord, NH, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.2081&lon=-71.5376&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report August 4, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 70324
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC82FA181
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/70324/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC82FA181

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, approach
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with object, approach
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)
  - object - tree(s)

## Analysis

THE PLT WAS ADVISED DURING THE 0028 & 0203 WX BRIEFINGS THAT VFR FLT WAS NOT RECOMMENDED. AT 0304 THE PLT CALLED FSS TO ACTIVATE HIS FLT PLAN & WAS AGAIN ADVISED VFR FLT WAS NOT RECOMMENDED. AT 0403 THE FLT WAS GIVEN CONCORD WX & AT 0406WAS CLEARED INTO THE CONCORD CONTROL ZONE TO MAINTAIN SPECIAL VFR AT OR BELOW 3,000 FT. AT APPROXIMATELY 0410 THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH TREES ABOUT 4.5 MI NW OF THE ARPT. THE PLT WAS QUALIFIED TO FLY ONLY VFR AIR TAXI.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N81786](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N81786-1982-10-07), registration cancelled 1982-10-07, S/N 288016216 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-161
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-161](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-161) (registry code 7102803) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-8016216
- Airframe hours: 772
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-D3G 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Coastal Air Services, Inc.
- Registered owner: James Ballantyne
- Departed: GON, GROTON, CT
- Destination: CON, CONCORD, NH
- Flight plan: VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 23; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 1,070 total, 945 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 500 ft overcast
- Temperature: 142 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: CON, 5 nm away

## 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 19820804038659A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820804038659A), Aug 4, 1982: Piper PA28161, Concord, NH, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Flew into trees while trying to land VFR at airport with a 500 foot ceiling. VFR flight was not recommended.

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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