# NTSB NYC83FA203: Piper PA-28-181, N6877J, Fishers Island, NY, August 6, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: August 5, 1983, 21:20 local (Aug 6, 1983, 01:20 UTC)
- Place: Fishers Island, NY
- Location: 41.2561° N, 72.0501° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs from NTSB’s distance and direction from ELIZABETH FLD (0B8), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.2561&lon=-72.0501&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 35069
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC83FA203
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/35069/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC83FA203

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, approach - vfr pattern - base leg/base to final
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - approach aids - unavailable (contributing factor)
  - airport facilities,visual apch slope ind(vasi) - unavailable (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PLT HAD CALLED HIS HOME BASE & WAS TOLD THAT FOG WAS BEGINNING TO MOVE SHOREWARD & THAT THE INTENDED DESTINATION, (WATERFORD, CT) WOULD NOT REMAIN VFR FOR LONG. THE PLTS OF N6877J & ANOTHER ACFT CHOSE TO DEPART IMMEDIATELY. BEFORE ARRIVING, FOG HAD MOVED IN, SO THEY ELECTED TO DIVERT TO FISHERS ISLAND, NY. DURING THEIR ARRIVAL TO FISHERS ISLAND, THE PLT OF N6877J WAS LEADING. IT WAS A DARK NIGHT, BUT THE PLT OF THE FOLLOWING ACFT ESTIMATED THAT THE VISIBILITY IN THAT AREA WAS APRX 15 MI. WHILE THE PLT OF THE 2ND ACFT WAS STILL AT 3000 FT, HE OBSERVED N6877J ON A 1 MI BASE LEG FOR RWY 19 WHEN IT CRASHED. HE STATED THAT THE ACFT APPEARED TO DO A CARTWHEEL ON THE WATER WHEN IT IMPACTED. TWO ACFT WHEELS & THE PLTS BODY WERE RECOVERED, BUT THE MAIN WRECKAGE WAS NOT FOUND. THE ARPT WAS EQUIPPED WITH MEDIUM INTENSITY RWY LIGHTS, BUT THERE WERE NO VASI LIGHTS INSTALLED & NO INSTRUMENT APPROACH FOR THE ARPT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6877J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6877J-1984-05-01), registration cancelled 1984-05-01, S/N 28-7690418 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-181
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-181](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-181) (registry code 7102807) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-76990418
- Airframe hours: 4423
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A4M 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Positioning, Part 91
- Registered owner: Yankee Airways, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, July 15, 1983, 90 hours before
- Departed: BID, BLOCK ISLAND, RI
- Destination: 7B8, WATERFORD, CT
- Airport: 0B8, Elizabeth Field, runway 12, 2,850 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 25; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; toxicology performed; flight hours: 639 total, 439 in this make and model, 504 as pilot in command, 91 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Temperature: 72 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: GON, 4 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 19830805046659A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830805046659A), Aug 5, 1983: Piper PA28181, Fishers Island, NY, Destroyed. Collided with the water while on base leg for a night landing. Fog in area and no ground reference. Aircraft sank.

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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