# NTSB NYC87FA187: Piper PA-34-200T, N33670, Boston, MA, June 26, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: June 26, 1987, 01:13 local (05:13 UTC)
- Place: Boston, MA
- Location: 42.3584° N, 71.0598° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Boston, MA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.3584&lon=-71.0598&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report October 25, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 30502
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC87FA187
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/30502/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC87FA187

## 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)
  - procedures/directives - not followed, company/operator management (contributing factor)
  - lack of total experience, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - aircraft handling - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - spatial disorientation, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience in type of aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with object, descent - uncontrolled
  - object - residence (contributing factor)
  - object - vehicle (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE EN ROUTE PORTION OF THE FLT WAS UNEVENTFUL, EXCEPT THAT THE PLT USED THE CALL SIGN 'N251DE' INSTEAD OF 'N33670' WHICH WAS THE REGISTRATION NUMBER OF HIS ACFT. DRG ARRIVAL AT BOSTON, HE WAS PROVIDED RADAR VECTORS, CLEARED FOR AN ILS RWY 4R APCH & INSTRUCTED TO CONTACT THE TOWER. THE PLT CONTACTED THE TOWER & RPRTD OVER THE OUTER MARKER. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THE ACFT ENTERED A LEFT TURN, THEN RADIO & RADAR CONTACT WERE LOST. IT CRASHED ABOUT 2.5 MI SSE OF THE ARPT.A WITNESS NR THE CRASH SITE THOUGHT THE ACFT HAD ENG PROBLEMS WHEN HE SAW IT DSCNDG IN A WESTERLY DIRECTION. HE SAID THE ENG THEN 'SMOOTHED OUT' & THE PLANE BGN TO CLIMB, THEN IT SUDDENLY WENT INTO A DIVE & CRASHED. DRG IMPACT, THE ACFT STRUCK A RESIDENCE & A PARKED AUTO. THREE HOUSES & 10 AUTOS WERE DESTROYED BY IMPACT & FIRE, OTHER HOUSES WERE DMG BY FIRE. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS FND. THE PLT WAS CONDUCTING PART 135 OPNS IN IFR WITH 545 HRS TOTAL FLT TIME, 59 HRS INSTRUMENT TIME & 95 HRS NGT EXPERIENCE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N33670 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-34-200T
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 347570146
- Airframe hours: 2828
- Engines: CONTINENTAL L/TSIO-360-E 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Part 135
- Registered owner: Reynald P. Crete
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, June 18, 1987
- Departed: TEB, NEWARK, NJ
- Destination: BOS, BOSTON, MA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: BOS, Logan Intl, runway 4, 10,005 × 150 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 21; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 545 total, 6 in this make and model, 407 as pilot in command, 150 in the last 90 days, 61 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 70° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 600 ft overcast
- Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: BOS, 2 nm away

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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