# NTSB NYC90FA117: Piper PA-28-181, N8376N, Rome, PA, May 29, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: May 29, 1990, 01:45 local (05:45 UTC)
- Place: Rome, PA
- Coordinates: 41.849491, -76.340057 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.8495&lon=-76.3401&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report October 2, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 36535
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC90FA117
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/36535/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC90FA117

## Probable cause

AN INFLIGHT LOSS OF CONTROL DUE TO SPATIAL DISORIENTATION. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S LACK OF AN INSTRUMENT RATING, AND HIS DECISION TO MAKE THE FLIGHT AFTER RECEIVING THREE SEPARATE BRIEFINGS WHERE HE WAS TOLD 'VFR FLIGHT NOT RECOMMENDED.'

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - preflight briefing service - performed, atc personnel(fss)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - preflight briefing service - disregarded, pilot in command (cause)
  - self-induced pressure, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - rain (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - performed, pilot in command (cause)
- Loss of control - in flight, cruise - normal
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of recent instrument time, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - spatial disorientation, pilot in command (cause)
- Loss of control - on ground/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - open field

## Analysis

THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PVT PILOT WAS FLYING FROM HAMILTON, CANADA, TO BERLIN, NJ AT NIGHT. HE STOPPED AT BUFFALO, NY AND RECEIVED A WEATHER BRIEFING WITH VNR (VFR FLIGHT NOT RECOMMENDED) DUE TO RAIN, LOW CLOUDS, AND FOG. HE DEPARTED VFR AND CONTACTED WILLIAMSPORT AFSS, RECEIVED AN EN ROUTE BRIEFING AND THEN MADE AN UNPLANNED STOP AT ELMIRA, NY. WHILE ON THE GROUND HE RECEIVED TWO ADDITIONAL BRIEFINGS, BOTH WITH VNR. HE AGAIN DEPARTED VFR AND CONTACTED THE NY ARTCC FOR VFR ADVISORIES. HE SAID HE WAS AT 3200 FT, HOWEVER NY CENTER SAID 4200 FEET WAS THE MINIMUM RADAR VECOTRING ALTITUDE. HE FINALLY CLIMBED TO 4000 FT AND DISAPPEARED FROM RADAR AFTER APPROXIMATELY 1 1/2 MINUTES. THE LAST FEW RADAR CONTACTS SHOWED A LEFT TURN APPROX TWICE STANDARD RATE. THE GROUND IMPACT SHOWED THE AIRPLANE IN A LEFT TURN AT IMPACT. WITNESSES ON THE GROUND REPORTED RAIN AND FOG. NO EVIDENCE OF A MECHANICAL FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8376N](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8376N-1990-06-29), registration cancelled 1990-06-29, S/N 288190217 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-181
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-181](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-181) (registry code 7102807) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-8190217
- Airframe hours: 2482
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A4M 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Garden State Flying Service
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: 100 hour, April 18, 1990, 43 hours before
- Departed: ELM, ELMIRA, NY
- Destination: 19N, CAMDEN, NJ
- Flight plan: VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 33; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 308 total, 235 as pilot in command, 44 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 140° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 4,300 ft overcast
- Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: BGM, 18 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 19900529017429A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900529017429A), May 29, 1990: Piper PA28181, Rome, NY, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Proceeded into IMC lost control. Spiral dived into open field.

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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