Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Topsail Beach, North Carolina 28445
Monday, July 21, 1986 14:00 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PLT WAS ON A X-COUNTRY FLT FROM NEW YORK STATE TO FLORIDA WITH A PLANNED REFUELING STOP AT WILMINGTON, NC. HE REPORTED THAT HE BECAME DISORIENTED WHEN THE ACFT'S VOR NEEDLE BEGAN WAVERING, ABOUT 28 MILES NORTH OF WILMINGTON. ALSO, HE STATED THAT HE NO LONGER FELT COMFORTABLE IN THE AIR AND DECIDED TO LAND. A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING WAS MADE ON A DESOLATE SECTION OF THE BEACH WHERE THE ACFT ENCOUNTERED SOFT SAND & FLIPPED INVERTED. NO MECHANICAL PROBLEM OF THE ACFT WAS VERIFIED. AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, THE VISIBILITY WAS ESTIMATED TO BE 3 MILES DUE TO HAZE.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/21/1986
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1400
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City TOPSAIL BEACH
Event State NORTH CAROLINA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 28445
Event Date Year 1986
Event Date Month 7
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 1251 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 250
Weather Observation Facility ID ILM
Elevation of weather observation facility 32
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 13
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 25000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 3
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 34
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 26
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 110
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 6
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 2400
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 3
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 3
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1505
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 21 1986 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1420
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 31916
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 9:14AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N7059R
NTSB Number ATL86LA201
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-28-140
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-28-140
Aircraft Serial Number 28-21758
Certified Max Gross Weight 2150
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 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name ROBERT R. DIAZ
Aircraft Owner Street Address 21 SALEM ROAD
Aircraft Owner City FISHKILL
Aircraft Owner State NY
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 12524
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 --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code POU
Departure City POUGHKEEPSIE
Departure State NY
Departure Country
Departure Time 1030
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code ILM
Destination City WILMINGTON
Destination State NC
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:36AM
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 --