# NTSB NYC85FA099: Piper PA-31-310, N68DD, Nantucket, MA, April 6, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: April 6, 1985, 18:15 local (23:15 UTC)
- Place: Nantucket, MA
- Location: 41.2645° N, 70.0484° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs from NTSB’s distance and direction from NANTUCKET MEML (ACK), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.2645&lon=-70.0484&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 3 serious, 5 minor
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 35804
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC85FA099
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/35804/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC85FA099

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, approach - iaf to faf/outer marker (ifr)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, approach - faf/outer marker to threshold (ifr)
  - minimum descent altitude - below, pilot in command (cause)
  - anxiety/apprehension, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - descent - not corrected, pilot in command (cause)
  - missed approach - not performed, pilot in command (contributing factor)

## Analysis

ACFT COLLIDED WITH TREES DURING FINAL APPROACH TO RUNWAY 24. NO EVIDENCE OF PRE-IMPACT FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION OF THE ACFT WAS FOUND. REPORTED WX AT CRASH SITE INDEFINITE 100 FEET SKY OBSCURED. RVR 2400 FEET. ACFT SHOULD HAVE ENCOUNTERED A DECREASING HEADWIND AND PROBABLY MODERATE TURBULENCE ON THE FINAL DESCENT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N68DD (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-31-310
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 31-532
- Airframe hours: 6878
- Engines: LYCOMING TI0-540A2B 310 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Nantucket Aircrft Main.,Inc., doing business as Will'S Air
- Registered owner: Richard K. & Dawn Derridinger
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, March 25, 1985, 21 hours before
- Departed: HYA, HYANNIS, MA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: ACK, Nantucket, runway 24, 6,303 × 50 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 33; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 5,800 total, 370 in this make and model, 5,300 as pilot in command, 155 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 240° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 200 ft
- Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: ACK, 1 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 19850406011059A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850406011059A), Apr 6, 1985: Piper PA31, Nantucket, MA, Destroyed. On the ILS approach, encountered moderate turbulence with a loss in airspeed. Descended into trees and burned.

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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