# NTSB NYC84FA274: Piper PA-24-260, N9232P, Sydney, NY, August 12, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: August 12, 1984, 01:15 local (05:15 UTC)
- Place: Sydney, NY
- Coordinates: 42.309753, -75.389587 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.3098&lon=-75.3896&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): 35359
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC84FA274
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/35359/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC84FA274

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with object, circling (ifr)
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)
  - proper altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)

## Analysis

DURING A NIGHT ARRIVAL, THE PLT WAS CLEARED FOR A VOR/CIRCLING APCH TO THE SIDNEY MUNI ARPT. THE PUBLISHED APCH WAS FROM THE HANCOCK VOR WITH A NORTHERLY HEADING TO THE ARPT OF 354 DEG. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT CRASHED & BURNED ON WOODED TERRAIN ABOUT 1 MI NORTH OF THE ARPT IN THE VICINITY OF A LEFT DOWNWIND LEG FOR RWY 7. INITIAL IMPACT OCCURRED WITH TREES AT AN ELEVATION OF ABOUT 1550 FT WHILE PARALLELING RWY 7/25 (HEADING 255 DEG). THE ELEVATION OF THE ARPT WAS 1027 FT. THE MIN DESCENT ALT (MDA) FOR THE VOR APCH WAS 2280 FT. AN EXAM OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF A PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION. THE PROP BLADES HAD EVIDENCE OF ROTATIONAL DAMAGE. A TEST OF THE PLT'S BLOOD SHOWED AN ALCOHOL LEVEL OF 101 MGS% (.101%); HOWEVER, THE PLT'S BODY (& THE WRECKAGE) WERE NOT FOUND UNTIL 8/15/84. THERE WAS EVIDENCE THAT ALCOHOL IN THE PLT'S BLOOD WOULD HAVE RESULTED FROM PUTREFACTION. ABOUT 26 MI SW AT BINGHAMTON, NY, THE 0051 EDT WX WAS, IN PART: 1500 FT SCATTERED, 5500 FT OVERCAST, VISIBILITY 7MI, WIND 120 DEG AT 5 KTS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N9232P (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-24-260
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 24-4730
- Airframe hours: 4000
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-4A5 260 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Positioning, Part 91
- Registered owner: Ford-Aire, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, June 20, 1984, 34 hours before
- Departed: LGA, FLUSHING, NY
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: N23, Sidney Muni, runway 7, 4,220 × 75 ft, macadam

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 27; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 1,900 total, 1,650 as pilot in command, 14 in the last 90 days, 14 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Night/dark
- Temperature: -0 °F
- Observed at: BGM, 26 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 19840812076269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840812076269A), Aug 12, 1984: Piper PA24260, Sidney, NY, Destroyed. Struck trees during IFR approach. Crashed and burned. Pilot had elevated blood alcohol level.

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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