# NTSB NYC84LA015: Short Brothers SD3-30, N26288, Middletown, PA, October 28, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: October 28, 1983, 13:35 local (17:35 UTC)
- Place: Middletown, PA
- Coordinates: 40.189521, -76.700592 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.1895&lon=-76.7006&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 29 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 35437
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC84LA015
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/35437/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC84LA015

## Sequence of events

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

- Miscellaneous/other, climb - to cruise
  - suicide - intentional, passenger (cause)

## Analysis

AFTER TAKEOFF ON A FLT TO WASHINGTON, DC, THE AIRCRAFT WAS CLIMBING THRU ABOUT 3500 FT WHEN A PERSON (RIDING AS A PASSENGER) MOVED TO THE RIGHT REAR DOOR, OPENED IT & DEPARTED THE ACFT. PRIOR TO THE FLT, AN ASSOCIATE, WHO WAS AN ACFT REFUELER, SAW THE PERSON NEAR THE END OF THE BOARDING LINE. THE REFUELER ASKED THE PERSON WHERE HE WAS GOING; THE PERSON REPLIED DC OR SOMEPLACE IN BETWEEN. WHEN THE PERSON GOT ON BOARD, HE SPOKE TO THE FLT ATTENDANT BY NAME & ASKED FOR A SPECIFIC SEAT NEAR THE RIGHT REAR DOOR. WHEN THE ACFT WAS CLIMBING AFTER TAKEOFF, THE FLT ATTENDANT HEARD AIR NOISE FROM THE OPENED DOOR & ALSO HEARD SOMEONE SCREAM 'MY GOD, HE JUMPED.' AFTER THE PERSON JUMPED, THE DOOR REMAINED PARTIALLY OPEN WITH HIS SHOE WEDGED IN THE DOORWAY.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N26288](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N26288-2018-05-31), registration cancelled 2018-05-31, S/N SH 3074, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Short Brothers SD3-30
- Registry model: [Short Bros. & Harland SD3-30](https://openairdocs.org/model/short-bros-harland-sd3-30) (registry code 8100602) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-60A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pt6a-60a) (registry code 52043, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: SH 3074
- Airframe hours: 3005
- Engines: P&W PT6A-45A 1120 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Registered owner: Pennsylvania Airlines, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: MDT
- Destination: DCA, WASHINGTON, DC
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 27; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 6,472 total, 2,310 in this make and model, 5,358 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 220° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 36 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: HAR

## 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 19831028075179A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19831028075179A), Oct 28, 1983: Stbros SD330, Middletown, PA, 1 fatal. Passenger jumped out of right rear door as aircraft climbed through 3500 feet.

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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