# NTSB NYC85FA104: Piper PA-28-180, N55408, East Haddam, CT, April 10, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: April 10, 1985, 14:28 local (19:28 UTC)
- Place: East Haddam, CT
- Location: 41.4532° N, 72.4612° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of East Haddam, CT, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.4532&lon=-72.4612&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 1 serious
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 35807
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC85FA104
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/35807/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC85FA104

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, go-around (vfr)
  - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - aircraft handling - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

DURING APPROACH TO RUNWAY 14 PILOT DECIDED TO GO AROUND. AIRCRAFT TURNED LEFT ABOUT 90 DEGREES AND COLLIDED WITH RISING TERRAIN .2 NM EAST OF THE RUNWAY. THE RISING TERRAIN PARALLELS RUNWAY 14.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N55408](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N55408-2013-10-29), registration cancelled 2013-10-29, S/N 28-7305378, built 1973 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-180
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180) (registry code 7102808) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-7305378
- Airframe hours: 3367
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A4A 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Paul Terowsky
- Registered owner: Sperry Flying Club, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, August 25, 1984, 128 hours before
- Departed: ISP, RONKONKOMA, NY
- Destination: 42B, EAST HADDAM, CT
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: 42B, Goodspeed, runway 14, 2,100 × 50 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 44; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 329 total, 300 in this make and model, 16 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 8 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 140° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 15 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 19850410011849A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850410011849A), Apr 10, 1985: Piper PA28180, East Haddam, CT, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Overshot final several times before executing a go around to the east. Impacted with rising terrain.

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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