# NTSB NYC83FA037: Piper PA-32-260, N32750, Douglassville, PA, December 2, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: December 1, 1982, 22:05 local (Dec 2, 1982, 03:05 UTC)
- Place: Douglassville, PA
- Coordinates: 40.26007, -75.740028 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.2601&lon=-75.7400&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal, 2 serious
- Status: Completed, report December 1, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 70498
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC83FA037
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/70498/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC83FA037

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power, missed approach (ifr)
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
  - weather condition - carburetor icing conditions
- In flight collision with object, missed approach (ifr)
  - light condition - night (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - high terrain (contributing factor)
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)

## Analysis

AT APRX 1540 EST, THE ACFT WAS DISPATCHED TO PHILADELPHIA, PA ON A PAX FLT. AFTER ARRIVING, THE PLT REMAINED THERE TO PICK UP 4 OTHER PAX THAT WERE ARRIVING AT APPROX 2100 EST. AT 2007, THE PLT RECEIVED A PARTIAL WX BRIEF & FILED AN IFR FLT PLAN TO RTN TO POTTSTOWN. THE ACFT DEPARTED WITH AN IFR CLNC AT 2145 & PROCEEDED AT 3000 FT MSL, JUST ABV THE CLD TOPS. DRG ARRIVAL, THE PLT WAS CLRD FOR A VOR-B APCH TO THE POTTSTOWN MUNI ARPT. HE RPRTD THAT HE COULD SEE THE ARPT BEACON FROM OVER THE VOR, BUT NOTED PATCHY GND FOG. THE APCH WAS CONTD TO THE MISSED APCH POINT WHERE HE LOST SITE OF THE BCN. HE BGN MAKING A MISSED APCH; HOWEVER, WHEN THE THROTTLE WAS ADVANCED, NO DIFFERENCE IN ENG SOUND WAS NOTED, EXCEPT HE RECALLED THERE MAY HAVE BEEN SOME "FLUTTER IN THE ENGINE." RPRTDLY, THE ACFT CONTD DSNDG & SLOWING TIL IT HIT TREES AT 440 FT MSL, APRX 1 MI NW OF THE ARPT (ARPT ELEV 256 FT). NO PREIMPACT FAILURE WAS FOUND. TEMP & DEW PT WERE 48 DEG, ICG PROB CHART INDICATED SERIOUS CARB ICG CONDS WERE PRESENT. HOWEVER, PSN OF CARB HEAT CTL COULD NOT BE VERIFIED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N32750](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N32750-1984-10-03), registration cancelled 1984-10-03, S/N 32-7500008 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32-260
- Registry model: [Piper PA-32-260](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-260) (registry code 7103206) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 32-7500008
- Airframe hours: 3745
- Engines: LYCOMING O-540-E4B5 260 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Basco Flying Service, Inc.
- Registered owner: Basco Flying Service, Inc.
- Departed: PHL, PHILADELPHIA, PA
- Destination: N47, POTTSTOWN, PA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: N47, Pottstown Municipal, runway 25, 2,700 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 41; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 3,716 total, 100 in this make and model, 3,479 as pilot in command, 268 in the last 90 days, 84 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: calm
- Lowest ceiling: 400 ft
- Temperature: 118 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: RDG, 15 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 19821201063819A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19821201063819A), Dec 1, 1982: Piper PA32260, Douglassville, PA, No damage, 3 fatal

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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