# NTSB NYC87LA113: Piper PA-31T, N200FD, Lawrence, MA, March 21, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 20, 1987, 23:00 local (Mar 21, 1987, 04:00 UTC)
- Place: Lawrence, MA
- Location: 42.7289° N, 71.1122° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs from NTSB’s distance and direction from LAWRENCE MUNI (LWM), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.7289&lon=-71.1122&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 2 minor
- Status: Completed, report August 31, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 30623
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC87LA113
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/30623/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC87LA113

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, approach - faf/outer marker to threshold (ifr)
  - weather condition - obscuration (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - snow (contributing factor)
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - ifr procedure - not followed, pilot in command (cause)
  - minimum descent altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - overconfidence in personal ability, pilot in command

## Analysis

THE CREW OF THE PA-31T CHEYENNE HAD MADE ONE MISSED APPROACH AND THE CO-PILOT WAS CALLING OUT THE ALTITUDES TO THE PILOT. THE PILOT'S REPLY TO THE CO-PILOT WAS THAT HE WAS JUST GOING TO DESCEND TO 400 FT. THE APPROACH MINIMUMS WERE PUBLISHED FOR AN MDA OF 660 FT PLUS 80 FT WHEN THE CONTROL ZONE IS NOT IN EFFECT. THE AIRCRAFT FLEW INTO RISING TERRAIN. THE CO-PILOT SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES, THE ACFT WAS DESTROYED DUE TO IMPACT AND FIRE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N200FD](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N200FD-1989-01-12), registration cancelled 1989-01-12, S/N 31T-7520040, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-31T
- Registry model: [Piper PA-31T](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-31t) (registry code 7103124) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-60A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pt6a-60a) (registry code 52043, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 31-7520040
- Airframe hours: 3707
- Engines: P&W PT6A-28 620 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Part 135
- Registered owner: Birk Leasing
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, March 16, 1987, 12 hours before
- Departed: PWM, PORTLAND, ME
- Destination: LWM, LAWRENCE, MA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: LWM, Lawrence, runway 23, 4,997 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 49; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 9,530 total, 789 in this make and model, 9,400 as pilot in command, 167 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 300° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 1,500 ft overcast
- Temperature: 36 °F, dew point 28 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: LWM, 1 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 19870320007269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870320007269A), Mar 20, 1987: Piper PA31T, Lawrence, MA, Destroyed. Missed approach second try, advised descent to 400 AGL below mda. Flew into rising terrain.

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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