# NTSB NYC84FA085: Piper PA-28R-200, N55495, Templeton, MA, January 29, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: January 28, 1984, 19:10 local (Jan 29, 1984, 00:10 UTC)
- Place: Templeton, MA
- Location: 42.5354° N, 72.0164° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs from NTSB’s distance and direction from GARDNER MUNI (GDM), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.5354&lon=-72.0164&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 35316
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC84FA085
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/35316/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC84FA085

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with object, maneuvering
  - low pass - performed, pilot in command
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - proper altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - visual/aural perception, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)
  - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH TREES ON UNLGTD TERRAIN AT NGT AFTER MAKING A LOW PASS AT APRX 60 FT AGL WITH THE GEAR EXTENDED. WITNESSES REPORTED THAT THE ACFT'S CLEARANCE LIGHTS WERE NOT OPERATING UNTIL THE RWY LIGHTS WERE TURNED ON, THEN THEY OBSERVED THE ACFT'S STROBE LIGHT. THE RWY LIGHTS COULD HAVE BEEN TURNED ON BY KEYING THE RADIO MIKE ON 123.45 MHZ. THE WITNESSES HEARD THE SOUND OF THE CRASH WHICH WAS FOLLOWED BY SILENCE. DURING IMPACT IN A WOODED AREA, THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH SEVERAL TREES OVER AN AREA OF ABOUT 175 FT. THE ACFT'S LIGHT & ALTERNATOR SWITCHES WERE FOUND IN THE 'OFF' POSITION; THE BATTERY SWITCH WAS ON. THE ALTERNATOR PULLEY HAD A FRACTURE SEPARATION; HOWEVER, THE MODE OF SEPARATION WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE ACFT HAD DEPARTED MANSFIELD, MASSACHUSETS FOR MANSFIELD, NEW HAMPSHIRE AT 1845 EST. THE PLT HAD PLANNED TO RETURN IN 4 HRS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N55495 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28R-200
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-R-7335244
- Airframe hours: 3073
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-C1G 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Powell Aviation, Inc.
- Registered owner: Foxtrot Papa, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, October 10, 1983, 46 hours before
- Departed: 1B9, MANSFIELD, MA
- Destination: MHT, MANCHESTER, NH
- Airport: GDM, Gardner, runway 18, 3,000 × 75 ft

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 54; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; toxicology performed; flight hours: 1,600 total, 8 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 70° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 21 °F, dew point 1 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: ORC

## 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 19840128003459A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840128003459A), Jan 28, 1984: Piper PA28R200, Templeton, MA, Destroyed, 3 fatal. Aircraft crashed while circling airport in apparent preperation to land.

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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