# NTSB NYC84FHM01: Piper PA-28-181, N30460, Poughkeepsie, NY, October 11, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Final report
- Date: October 11, 1983, 14:35 local (18:35 UTC)
- Place: Poughkeepsie, NY
- Coordinates: 41.590499, -73.909873 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.5905&lon=-73.9099&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 35398
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC84FHM01
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/35398/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC84FHM01

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, descent - normal
  - fuel system,carburetor - ice (contributing factor)
  - carburetor heat - not used, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - carburetor icing conditions (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - clouds (contributing factor)
- Forced landing, landing - flare/touchdown
- In flight collision with object, landing - flare/touchdown
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH TREES DURING A FORCED LANDING AFTER THE ENGINE QUIT. THE PLT HAD LET DOWN THROUGH CLOUDS DURING A DESCENT FOR A VOR-DME APPROACH. THE ACFT BROKE OUT OF THE CLOUDS AT 2500 FT, SEEING THE ARPT THE PLT CANCELLED IFR. AFTER GETTING RWY INFORMATION THE PLT TURNED DOWNWIND AND THE ENGINE STOPPED. HE DECLARED AN EMERGENCY AND CRASH LANDED IN A WOODED AREA. THE CARBURETOR HEAT WAS FOUND IN THE OFF POSITION AFTER THE ACCIDENT. THE ENGINE RAN NORMALLY DURING A POST ACCIDENT TEST.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N30460](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N30460-1984-03-07), registration cancelled 1984-03-07, S/N 28-7990091 (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: 28-7990091
- Airframe hours: 2097
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A4M 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Anthony Sponborg
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, October 10, 1983, 1 hours before
- Departed: DXR, DANBURY, CT
- Destination: POU, POUGHKEEPSIE, NY
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: POU, Dutchess County, runway 6, 5,001 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 56; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 838 total, 205 in this make and model, 6,411 as pilot in command, 32 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 50 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Observed at: POU

## 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 19831011054099A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19831011054099A), Oct 11, 1983: Piper PA28181, Poughkeepsie, NY, Destroyed. Engine quit in pattern for landing. Crashed into trees. Had made IFR approach thru clouds without using carb heat.

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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