# NTSB NYC83FA187: Piper PA-28-181, N8398T, Fairton, NJ, July 22, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: July 21, 1983, 21:00 local (Jul 22, 1983, 01:00 UTC)
- Place: Fairton, NJ
- Location: 39.3734° N, 75.2088° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Fairton, NJ, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.3734&lon=-75.2088&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 35062
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC83FA187
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/35062/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC83FA187

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - weather condition - thunderstorm (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - turbulence(thunderstorms) (contributing factor)
  - flight into known adverse weather - continued, pilot in command (cause)
- Loss of control - in flight, cruise - normal
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - aircraft handling - not possible, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

PRIOR TO DEPARTURE THE PLT RECEIVED A WX BRIEFING WHICH WAS CONCLUDED WITH A SEVERE WX WARNING. THE PLT STATED HE WOULD TRY ANYWAY & IF THE WX GOT TOO BAD HE WOULD RETURN. ABOUT 16 MIN LATER THE PLT REQUESTED UPDATED WX CONDITIONS. HE WAS ADVISED OF A CONVECTIVE SIGMET, SEVERE WX WATCH, & ACTIVE THUNDERSTORMS THROUGHOUT THE AREA. HE WAS ALSO ADVISED VFR FLTWAS NOT RECOMMENDED. THE FLT CONTINUED ON ITS WAY. 12 MIN LATER THE FLT CONTACTED DOVER APPROACH CONTROL & REQUESTED IMMEDIATE RADAR VECTORS TO THE NEAREST LIGHTED ARPT. THE TARGET WAS EVENTUALLY LOST. THE ACFT HAD DESCENDED INTO A MARSHAREA IN AN EXTREME NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N8398T (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-181
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-8190149
- Airframe hours: 745
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A4M 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Woodbridge Airport, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, March 21, 1983, 65 hours before
- Departed: AIY, ATLANTIC CITY, NJ
- Destination: W22, WOODBRIDGE, VA
- Flight plan: VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 33; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 230 total, 20 in this make and model, 10 as pilot in command, 13 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 240° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 73 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: MIV, 10 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 19830721075429A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830721075429A), Jul 21, 1983: Piper PA28181, Fairton, NJ, Destroyed, 3 fatal. Pilot continued VFR flight into area of deteriorating weather and thunderstorms. Crashed during radar vectors.

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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