# NTSB NYC88FA248: Piper PA-39-30, N2875A, Margaretville, NY, July 31, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: July 30, 1988, 20:45 local (Jul 31, 1988, 00:45 UTC)
- Place: Margaretville, NY
- Coordinates: 42.139987, -74.649551 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.1400&lon=-74.6496&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report January 24, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 36017
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC88FA248
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/36017/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC88FA248

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, cruise
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - altitude - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - in-flight planning/decision - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - became lost/disoriented, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE ACFT DEPARTED BLOCK ISLAND, RI EN ROUTE TO STEWART INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, NEWBURGH, NEW YORK, THE AIRCRAFT NEVER ARRIVED AND WAS REPORTED MISSING AUGUST 2, 1988. THE AIRCRAFT WAS MISSING UNTIL NOVEMBER 21, 1988 WHEN IT WAS FOUND NEAR MARGARETVILLE, NY BY DEER HUNTERS WHO NOTIFIED THE STATE POLICE OF THE LOCATION. THE AIRCRAFT HAD COLLIDED WITH TREES AND TERRAIN AT THE 3,300 FT LEVEL IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN, WELL OFF DIRECT ROUTE OF FLIGHT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2875A](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2875A-2017-05-23), registration cancelled 2017-05-23, S/N 39-30, built 1970 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-39-30
- Registry model: [Piper PA-39](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-39) (registry code 7103902) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-320-series) (registry code 41509, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Airframe hours: 700
- Engines: LYCOMING I0-320-B1A 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Trimar Flight Services
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: Annual, June 1, 1988, 20 hours before
- Departed: BID, BLOCK ISLAND, RI
- Destination: SWF, NEWBURGH, NY
- Flight plan: VFR

## 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 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 1,223 total, 1,025 in this make and model, 1,025 as pilot in command, 29 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: BDR, 6 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 19880730056169A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880730056169A), Jul 30, 1988: Piper PA39, Margaretville, NY, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Flew into side of a mountain at night in level flight. Impacted a 3300 foot mountain in area of 4000 foot mountains

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.