# NTSB NYC86FA096: Piper PA-24-180, N6599P, Somers, CT, March 31, 1986

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: March 30, 1986, 20:30 local (Mar 31, 1986, 01:30 UTC)
- Place: Somers, CT
- Location: 41.9505° N, 72.4377° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs from NTSB’s distance and direction from ELLINGTON (7B9), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.9505&lon=-72.4377&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 5 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 30181
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC86FA096
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/30181/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC86FA096

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, approach - vfr pattern - base turn
  - light condition - night (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - high terrain (contributing factor)
  - proper altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE ACFT, ON A NIGHT FLT, WAS SEEN FLYING ABOUT 1 MI WEST OF ELLINGTON ARPT. A WITNESS SAW THE ACFT FLYING NORTH AND JUST ABOVE THE 800 FT HIGH TERRAIN. THE ACFT WAS IN A GRADUAL DESCENT AND IT APPEARED THAT IT WOULD NOT CLEAR TERRAIN AHEAD. AFTERWARDS THE WITNESS SAW A GLOW EMITTING AND SMOKE RISING FROM THE ACCIDENT SITE. THE ACFT CAME TO REST AT AN ELEVATION OF 800 FT AND 2.2 MILES NORTHEAST OF THE ARPT. THE WRECKAGE WAS SCATTERED A DISTANCE OF ABOUT 300 FT ANDORIENTED ON A 335 DEGS MAG HDG. THE ARPT ELEV IS 235 FT MSL AND THE TRAFFIC PATTERN IS 1250 FT MSL. EXAMINATION OF THE ACFT DID NOT DISCLOSE EVIDENCE OF MALFUNCTION. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF PILOT INCAPACITATION OR IMPAIRMENT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6599P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6599P-2013-04-30), registration cancelled 2013-04-30, S/N 24-1721, built 1960 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-24-180
- Registry model: [Piper PA-24-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-180) (registry code 7102403) (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: 24-1721
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A10 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: S. Scrubber  C. Hoverman
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: HFD, HARTFORD, CT
- Destination: 7B9, ELLINGTON, CT
- Airport: 7B9, Ellington

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 26; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; toxicology performed; flight hours: 200 total, 45 in this make and model, 170 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/bright
- Wind: 190° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 39 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: HFD, 14 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 19860330007979A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19860330007979A), Mar 30, 1986: Piper PA24, Somers, CT, Destroyed, 4 fatal. The aircraft struck trees and high terrain during a night VFR aproach. The pilot began descent too early.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.