# NTSB NYC87FA204: Piper PA-30, N7617Y, Lincolnville, ME, July 14, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: July 14, 1987, 13:00 local (17:00 UTC)
- Place: Lincolnville, ME
- Location: 44.2725° N, 69.0366° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs from NTSB’s distance and direction from KNOX COUNTY RGNL (RKD), within about 4 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.2725&lon=-69.0366&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal
- Status: Completed, report December 27, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 30505
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC87FA204
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/30505/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC87FA204

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, approach
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - in-flight planning/decision - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - below approach/landing minimums (contributing factor)
  - in-flight weather advisories - issued, fbo personnel
- In flight collision with terrain/water, missed approach (ifr)
  - missed approach - performed, pilot in command
  - procedures/directives - not followed, pilot in command (cause)
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PLT WAS MAKING AN APPROACH TO KNOX COUNTY ARPT, ROCKLAND ME AND AFTER RECEIVING A WX REPORT FROM UNICOM THAT THE LOCAL WX WAS BELOW APPROACH MINIMUMS HE INDICATED THAT HE WOULD MAKE A MISSED APPROACH. THERE WAS NO FURTHER COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE ACFT. A WITNESS ON TOP OF BALD MOUNTAIN, NEAR THE ARPT, SAID THE FOG WAS VERY THICK AND THAT HE HEARD THE ACFT HIT THE MOUNTAIN. HE ALSO SAID THAT THE ACFT ENG WAS RUNNING SMOOTHLY AND HE HEARD NO SOUNDS OF MALFUNCTION. THE ACFT WAS FOUND APRX 15 MILES FROM THE ARPT ON A 30 DEGREE HEADING. THE PLT HAD EARLIER RECEIVED A REPORT THAT THE WX WAS BELOW MINIMUMS AND NO ACFT HAD ARRIVED AT THE DEST ARPT THAT MORNING. AN INSTRUCTOR WHO HAS GIVEN THE PLT INST TRNG SAID THAT HE OBSERVED A WEAKNESS IN MISSED APPRCH PLANNING DURING TRAINING BUT IT SEEMED TO HAVE BEEN CORRECTED AFTER TRAINING. THE POST ACC INVESTIGATION REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF ACFT MALFUNCTION. NO EVIDENCE OF MEDICAL FACTOR INVOLVEMENT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7617Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7617Y-2014-11-18), registration cancelled 2014-11-18, S/N 30-690, built 1964 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-30
- Registry model: [Piper PA-30](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-30) (registry code 7103002) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-320-series) (registry code 41509, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 30-690
- Airframe hours: 3621
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-320-B1A 260 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Air Trans. Assoc, Ltd.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, July 1, 1987, 6 hours before
- Departed: MHT, MANCHESTER, NH
- Destination: RKD, ROCKLAND, ME
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: RKD, Knox Co. Regional, runway 3, 4,000 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 50; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; toxicology performed; flight hours: 1,288 total, 244 in this make and model, 1,018 as pilot in command, 18 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Temperature: -0 °F, dew point -0 °F

## 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 19870714034569A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870714034569A), Jul 14, 1987: Piper PA30, Rockland, ME, Destroyed, 4 fatal. Lost control and crashed on a missed approach climbout. Pilot not IFR rated in twins. Lacked skill in procedures.

## Other investigations on N7617Y (1)

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.

- [NTSB NYC69F0319](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC69F0319), Feb 4, 1969: Piper PA-30 (N7617Y), Sussex, NJ, substantial damage

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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