# NTSB NYC87FA250: Piper PA-28-236, N2186B, Gaylordsville, CT, September 12, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: September 11, 1987, 21:10 local (Sep 12, 1987, 01:10 UTC)
- Place: Gaylordsville, CT
- Location: 41.6417° N, 73.4810° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Gaylordsville, CT, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.6417&lon=-73.4810&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report February 14, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 30513
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC87FA250
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/30513/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC87FA250

## Sequence of events

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

- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, cruise - normal
  - vacuum system - failure,total (cause)
  - flight/nav instruments,attitude gyro - inoperative
  - flight/nav instruments,directional gyro - inoperative
- Loss of control - in flight, descent - normal
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - light condition - night (contributing factor)
  - spatial disorientation, pilot in command (cause)
- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, descent - uncontrolled
  - wing,spar - failure,total
  - design stress limits of aircraft - exceeded, pilot in command (cause)
  - flight control,elevator - failure,total
  - flight control,rudder surface - failure,total
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE PILOT OF THE PIPER PA-28-236 WAS CRUISING AT 6000 FT AT NIGHT WHEN HE REPORTED A FAILURE OF HIS VACUUM PUMP FOLLOWED BY LOSS OF HIS ATTITUDE INDICATOR AND DIRECTIONAL GYRO. THE AIRCRAFT WAS OBSERVED TO MAKE A 360 DEGREE TURN ON THE RADAR SCOPE. THE AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER ISSUED 'NO GYRO' RADAR VECTORS. THE AIRCRAFT WAS CLEARED FROM 6000 FT TO 5000 FT IN PREPARATION FOR AN INSTRUMENT APPROACH. THE PILOT ACKNOWLEDGED THE DESCENT CLEARANCE AND THEN THE AIRCRAFT DISAPPEARED FROM THE RADAR SCOPE. IT WAS FOUND SCATTERED OVER 1/2 MILE WITH BOTH HORIZONTAL STABILIZER AND THE VERTICAL STABILIZER SEPARATED FROM THE AIRCRAFT. THE PILOTS LOG BOOK INDICATED HE MET THE RECENCY OF EXPERIENCE REQUIRED BY 14 CFR 61.57. FOG WAS REPORTED IN THE AREA AND THE CLOSEST RECORDED WEATHER INDICATED A 900 FT CEILING WITH FOG.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2186B](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2186B-1988-12-15), registration cancelled 1988-12-15, S/N 287911011 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-236
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-236](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-236) (registry code 7102815) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-7911011
- Airframe hours: 1250
- Engines: LYCOMING O-540-J3A5D 235 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Executive/Corporate, Part 91
- Registered owner: Triple R. Industries
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, March 11, 1987, 107 hours before
- Departed: HYA, HYANNIS, MA
- Destination: POU, POUGHKEEPSIE, NY
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 20; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 1,058 total, 133 in this make and model, 984 as pilot in command, 292 in the last 90 days, 88 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 120° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 900 ft overcast
- Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: DXR, 17 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 19870911051559A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870911051559A), Sep 11, 1987: Piper PA28236, Gaylordsville, CT, Destroyed, 1 fatal. On approach,vacuum warning light came on. Pilot lost control on partial panel. Airframe failure occurred from stress.

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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