# NTSB NYC87FA127: Piper PA-28-180, N7987W, York, PA, April 18, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: April 17, 1987, 20:18 local (Apr 18, 1987, 00:18 UTC)
- Place: York, PA
- Location: 39.9648° N, 76.7318° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of York, PA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.9648&lon=-76.7318&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal
- Status: Completed, report May 26, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 30496
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC87FA127
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/30496/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC87FA127

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, approach - faf/outer marker to threshold (ifr)
  - weather condition - fog
  - in-flight planning/decision - poor, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - light condition - dark night
  - ifr procedure - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - missed approach - not performed, pilot in command (cause)
  - spatial disorientation, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE PIPER PA-28-180 WAS MAKING AN NDB INSTRUMENT APPROACH UNDER INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS AT NIGHT. THE PILOT MANUEVERED THE AIRCRAFT OVER THE AIRPORT SEVERAL TIMES IN AN APPARENT ATTEMPT TO ACQUIRE VISUAL CONTACT WITH THE RUNWAY, LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT AND IMPACTED LEVEL TERRAIN NEXT TO THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT FAILED TO FOLLOW THE INSTRUMENT APPROACH PROCEDURE. A FEW MINUTES AFTER THE NOISE OF THE AIRCRAFT WAS NO LONGER HEARD, THE WRECKAGE WAS FOUND AT THE EDGE OF THE AIRPORT. THE PILOT AND THREE PASSENGERS WERE FATALLY INJURED.  THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED BY A HIGH SPEED IMPACT. THE AIRCRAFT WAS BASED AT THE AIRPORT WHERE THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7987W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7987W-2013-07-08), registration cancelled 2013-07-08, S/N 28-2044, built 1964 (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: 28-2044
- Airframe hours: 1878
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A3A 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Bruce E.Johnson
- Registered owner: Bruce E. Johnson
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 5, 1986, 75 hours before
- Departed: CRW, CHARLESTON, WV
- Destination: THV, YORK, PA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: THV, York-Thomasville, runway 16, 4,190 × 100 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 42; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 500 total, 497 in this make and model, 460 as pilot in command, 21 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 110° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 600 ft overcast
- Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Observed at: CXY, 20 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 19870417083369A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870417083369A), Apr 17, 1987: Piper PA28180, York, PA, Destroyed, 4 fatal. Indicates missed approach then circled back trying to find airport lost control near vertical impact near runway.

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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