# NTSB NYC86LA040: Piper PA-23-250, N54236, West Point, NY, November 23, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: November 22, 1985, 19:45 local (Nov 23, 1985, 00:45 UTC)
- Place: West Point, NY
- Coordinates: 41.390792, -73.970939 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.3908&lon=-73.9709&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 30269
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC86LA040
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/30269/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC86LA040

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with object, cruise
  - object - bird(s) (cause)
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE ACFT WAS RETURNING TO UNIVERSITY PARK ARPT AFTER PASSENGERS WERE DROPPED OFF AT WATERBURY OXFORD ARPT. APRX 20 MINUTES INTO THE FLT, THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH TWO BIRDS. THE LEFT WING TIP WAS DAMAGED ALONG WITH A PORTION OF A SECTION OF THE LEFT WING 3 1/2 INBOARD. THE ACFT CONTINUED ONTO THE DESTINATION AND A LANDING WAS MADE WITHOUT INCIDENT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N54236](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N54236), registered now, S/N 27-7554030, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-23-250
- Registry model: [Piper PA-23-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-23-250) (registry code 7102308) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 27-7554030
- Airframe hours: 4000
- Engines: LYCOMING O-540-C4B5 250 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Ferry, Part 91
- Registered owner: Nittany Air Charter Serv. Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, November 22, 1985, 48 hours before
- Departed: WATERBURY, CT
- Destination: STATE COLLEGE, PA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 37; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 3,100 total, 900 in this make and model, 2,537 as pilot in command, 60 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 300° at 20 knots
- Visibility: 25 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 19851122077479A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19851122077479A), Nov 22, 1985: Piper PA23250, West Point, NY, Substantial damage. Aircraft was struck by birds inflight. Damage to the left wing.

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.