# NTSB NYC84LA280: Piper PA-28-161, N4314L, Caldwell, NJ, August 20, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 20, 1984, 14:45 local (18:45 UTC)
- Place: Caldwell, NJ
- Location: 40.8752° N, 74.2814° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at ESSEX COUNTY (CDW), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.8752&lon=-74.2814&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 35740
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC84LA280
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/35740/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC84LA280

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering
  - buzzing - performed, pilot in command (cause)
  - altitude - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - visual/aural perception, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - judgment - poor, pilot in command (cause)
- Gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown
  - landing gear,main gear - failure,total (contributing factor)
  - landing gear,nose gear assembly - failure,total (contributing factor)
  - landing gear,main gear - overload (contributing factor)
  - landing gear,nose gear assembly - overload (contributing factor)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - ground loop/swerve - not corrected, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE ACFT HIT THE SURFACE OF THE WATER DURING A LOW PASS WHICH WAS DESCRIBED BY A WITNESS AS 10-30 FT AGL & DONE IN A SERIES OF PASSES WITH 'WINGS WOBBLING' UNTIL THE PASS THAT DAMAGED THE GEAR & WING CAUSING THE PLT & ACFT TO DEPART THE AREA. UPON RETURNING TO DEPARTURE ARPT THE ACFT WAS LANDING & THE NOSE GEAR & RT MAIN GEAR COLLAPSED. PRIOR TO LANDING THE GEAR STRUT WAS PROTRUDING THRU THE TOP OF THE RT WING GIVING THE PLT A VISUAL CLUE OF THE DAMAGE TO THE ACFTS UNDERCARRIAGE. AFTER THE GEAR FINISHED COLLAPSING ON THE RWY, THE ACFT SKIDDED OFF THE SIDE FURTHER DAMAGING THE RT WING, RT GEAR, RT FLAP, PROP, NOSE GEAR AND COWLING.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4314L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4314L-2022-05-28), registration cancelled 2022-05-28, S/N 28-8316107, built 1983 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-161
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-161](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-161) (registry code 7102803) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-8316107
- Airframe hours: 344
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-D3G 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Macdan Aviation Corp.
- Registered owner: Githeo Airship, Ltd. Corp.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, May 30, 1984, 81 hours before
- Airport: CDW, Essex County, runway 4, 4,553 × 80 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 24; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 115 total, 21 in this make and model, 63 as pilot in command, 4 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none

## 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 19840820070449A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840820070449A), Aug 20, 1984: Piper PA28161, Caldwell, NJ, Substantial damage. Struck water, damaged landing gear while flying low and switching fuel selector. Gear collapsed on airport landing.

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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