# NTSB NYC86LA134: Piper PA-28-140, N6848W, Pittsfield, MA, May 24, 1986

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: May 24, 1986, 11:30 local (15:30 UTC)
- Place: Pittsfield, MA
- Location: 42.4276° N, 73.2908° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at PITTSFIELD MUNI (PSF), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.4276&lon=-73.2908&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report April 25, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 30343
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC86LA134
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/30343/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC86LA134

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, go-around (vfr)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - became lost/disoriented - inadvertent, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - lack of total experience in type operation, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - altitude - misjudged, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - go-around - attempted, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - object - tree(s)

## Analysis

THE STUDENT PILOT ON A SOLO CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT IN A PIPER CHEROKEE PA-28-140 BECAME LOST AND ATTEMPTED A LANDING AT ANOTHER AIRPORT. THE WEATHER WAS 500 FT BROKEN, 1000 FT OVERCAST. VISIBILITY 8 MILES AND RAIN SHOWERS. ON HIS FIRST APPROACH, THE AIRCRAFT WAS HIGH AND DID NOT TOUCH DOWN. HE MADE A GO-AROUND. IN THE GO-AROUND, HE STARTED A TURN TO THE RIGHT, AND WAS THEN OBSERVED TO STALL. ROLL ON HIS BACK TO THE RIGHT AND FALL DOWNWARD INTO THE WOODS. THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED BY THE IMPACT AND THE PILOT RECEIVED SERIOUS INJURIES.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N6848W (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-140
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 2821002
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E2A 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Quade'S Flight School
- Registered owner: Quades Flight School
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: MGJ, MONTGOMERY, NY
- Destination: 1B1, HUDSON, NY
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: PSF, Pittsfield Municipal, runway 26, 5,000 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 33; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 32 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 280° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 500 ft broken
- Temperature: 64 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg

## 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 19860524019589A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19860524019589A), May 24, 1986: Piper PA28140, Pittsfield, MA, Destroyed. The student became lost during an attempted go around from a precautionary landing. The aircraft spun into ground

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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