Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Ft. Dix, New Jersey 08641
Friday, August 22, 1986 15:06 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE ACFT WAS HEADED SW ON VICTOR SIXTEEN INBOUND TO COYLE VOR WHEN THE PLT REPORTED THE LOSS OF GYRO INSTRUMENTS. THE ACFT WAS AT 6000 FT AND IN 'SOLID IFR WEATHER.' THE PLT ELECTED NOT TO DECLARE EMERGENCY AND LAND WHEN ASKED IF HE WANTED TO DO SO BY ATC. THE PLT STATED THAT HE WOULD CONTINUE THE FLIGHT. SHORTLY AFTER THE PLT REPORTED LOSS OF GYRO INSTRUMENTS THE ACFT BEGAN TO LOSE ALTITUDE AND VEER OFF OF COURSE. ATC INFORMED THE PLT OF THE ACFT DEVIATION AND THE PLT RESPONED THAT HE WOULD TAKE CORRECTIVE ACTION. THE ACFT CONTINUED TO DEVIATE UNTIL IT HAD DESCENDED TO 5200 FT WHEN THE PLT RADIOED AN ABRUPTLY ENDED TRANSMISSION: '...I'M IN TROUBLE.' THERE WAS NO FURTHER TRANSMISSION FROM THE PLT. THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND IN A WOODED AREA AND THE WRECKAGE WAS STREWN A DISTANCE OF ABOUT 1700 FT IN A NORTHERNLY DIRECTION. THERE WAS WING, TAIL AND FUSELAGE SEPARATION OF THE ACFT.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/22/1986
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1506
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City FT. DIX
Event State NEW JERSEY
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 08641
Event Date Year 1986
Event Date Month 8
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 1517 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 295
Weather Observation Facility ID WRT
Elevation of weather observation facility 133
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 3
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 800
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 500
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 6
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 19
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 16
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 70
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 11
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 0
Intensity of Precipitation Light
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 3
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 3
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2604
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Aug 22 1986 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1530
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 33678
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 9:14AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N8734P
NTSB Number NYC86FA214
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-24-260
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-24-260
Aircraft Serial Number 244184
Certified Max Gross Weight 2900
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 Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name N.A. SHARPLESS/W.R. SHIREY
Aircraft Owner Street Address RFD 1 BOX 405
Aircraft Owner City PRINCESS ANNE
Aircraft Owner State MD
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 21853
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name NORMAN A.SHARPLESS/WM.SHIREY
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address RFD 1,BOX 405
Operator City PRINCESS ANNE
Operator State MD
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 21853
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
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) Business
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code CDW
Departure City CALDWELL
Departure State NJ
Departure Country
Departure Time 1420
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code SBY
Destination City SALISBURY
Destination State MD
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Descent
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 --