# NTSB NYC85LA061: Piper PA-28-200, Malone, NY, February 9, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: February 8, 1985, 19:37 local (Feb 9, 1985, 00:37 UTC)
- Place: Malone, NY
- Coordinates: 44.840057, -74.290664 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.8401&lon=-74.2907&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 35826
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC85LA061
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/35826/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC85LA061

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - planning/decision - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - snow (contributing factor)
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, cruise - normal
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)
  - proper altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN ON THE SIDE OF A HILL AFTER ENCOUNTERING LOW CEILINGS AND SNOW. THE PLT DEPARTED MASSENA UNDER A SPECIAL VFR CLEARANCE AND AFTER APRX 25 MINUTES HE DECIDED TO RETURN TO MASSENA BECAUSE OF DETERIORATINGWEATHER. AFTER FLYING AT 2500 FT MSL FOR APRX 5 MINUTES THE ACFT CONTACTED THE HILLY WOODED AREA.

## Aircraft

- Registration: CGDVM (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-200
- Category: Airplane
- Airframe hours: 3300
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-B1E 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Edmonton Flying Club
- Last inspection: 100 hour, February 3, 1985, 20 hours before
- Departed: MASSENA, NY
- Destination: LGA, FLUSHING, NY
- Flight plan: VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 21; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 125 total, 28 in this make and model, 50 as pilot in command, 40 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 280° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 3 °F, dew point 7 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: MSS

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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