Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Sayre, Pennsylvania 18840
Wednesday, May 13, 1987 7:20 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

DRG INITIAL CLIMB AFTER TAKEOFF, SMOKE WAS OBSERVED IN THE COCKPIT. WHEN THE SMOKE BECAME HVY, THE PLT DECIDED TO LAND. HE ATTEMPTED A FORCED LANDING ON RISING TERRAIN IN FOGGY CONDS. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT CRASHED INTO THE SIDE OF THE HILL & BEGAN BURNING. DRG THE INVESTIGATION, ARCING TYPE BURNS WERE FOUND AROUND THE BOLT & NUT AT THE T1 TERMINAL. ALSO, THE EYELET FITTINGS ON THE ENDS OF 2 WIRES THAT ATTACHED AT THAT LOCATION WERE BADLY BURNED. THE SPECIFIC REASON FOR THE ARCING WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE PLT DID NOT HAVE A CURRENT BIENNIAL FLT REVIEW OR AIR TAXI/OPERATING CERTIFICATE.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/13/1987
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 720
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City SAYRE
Event State PENNSYLVANIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 18840
Event Date Year 1987
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 726 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 310
Weather Observation Facility ID ELM
Elevation of weather observation facility 955
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 22
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Obscured
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 0
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 2
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 2
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 2
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 3
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2446
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date May 13 1987 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 830
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 36645
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 2:24PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N32774
NTSB Number NYC87FA146
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire Ground
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-32-300
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-32-300
Aircraft Serial Number 32-7540064
Certified Max Gross Weight 3400
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 6
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jun 26 1986 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 125
Airframe Hours 2233
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name LARRY D. BROWN
Aircraft Owner Street Address RD 1, BOX 4
Aircraft Owner City SAYRE
Aircraft Owner State PA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 18840
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not Non-scheduled
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Domestic
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Passenger Only
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Unknown
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code N32
Departure City SAYRE
Departure State PA
Departure Country
Departure Time 716
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code
Destination City WASHINGTON
Destination State DC
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length 0
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --